Indian Railways has taken a significant step towards strengthening passenger safety, security and service delivery with the deployment of a humanoid robot named ASC ARJUN at Visakhapatnam Railway Station.
The introduction of ASC ARJUN marks a first-of-its-kind initiative on the Indian Railways network and reflects the organisation’s growing focus on adopting advanced and emerging technologies for public convenience, safety and operational efficiency. The humanoid robot has been deployed to work alongside Railway Protection Force personnel, particularly during periods of high passenger movement, to support station security and surveillance functions.
The robot was unveiled by Alok Bohra, Inspector General of the Railway Protection Force, and Lalit Bohra, Divisional Railway Manager, in the presence of A K Dubey. The occasion underscored Indian Railways’ emphasis on innovation-led, indigenous solutions aimed at improving passenger experience and operational effectiveness.
ASC ARJUN has been entirely designed and developed in Visakhapatnam using home-grown technology. A dedicated team worked continuously for more than a year to conceptualise, design and operationalise the humanoid robot, highlighting Indian Railways’ expanding capability to integrate advanced digital and artificial intelligence-driven systems into routine railway operations.
The robot is equipped with multiple advanced features to assist in enhancing station security. These include intrusion detection through a Face Recognition System, AI-based crowd monitoring and the ability to generate real-time alerts to the RPF control room. ASC ARJUN can also make automated public announcements in English, Hindi and Telugu, helping guide passengers and improve awareness on safety and security-related matters.
Designed for continuous patrolling, the humanoid robot is capable of semi-autonomous navigation along predefined paths, with inbuilt obstacle detection and avoidance. This allows it to operate round the clock across platforms and station areas, supplementing human surveillance and optimising manpower deployment. In addition, ASC ARJUN is equipped with fire and smoke detection systems to enable faster identification of emergency situations and prompt response by security personnel.
Keeping passenger interaction in focus, the robot has been designed with a friendly interface. It can greet passengers with a Namaste gesture, salute RPF personnel, and provide basic information and assistance through an easy-to-use interactive system.
With the deployment of ASC ARJUN, Indian Railways continues to reinforce its commitment to leveraging indigenous innovation and advanced technology to create a safer, more secure and passenger-friendly railway environment across the country.
