Railways to implement artificial intelligence, data analytics for better operational efficiency

Indian Railways has decided to implement artificial intelligence, data analytics for better operational efficiency. Mr. Tribhuvan Darbari, MD & CEO – Texmaco Defence Systems Private Limited and Chief Executive Officer Texmaco Rail and Engineering lauded the initiative. Mr. Tribhuvan Darbari said, “The Indian Railways can use automatic railway track cleaning systems, the Internet of Things (IoT) with multiple sensors to monitor employees and tracks, drones to monitor and scan tracks for faults and pilferage, and prevent potential derailments.” He further added that the UK is already leading the way for robot train maintenance with university-led initiatives.

In the age of industrial revolution 4.0, digital transformation is taking place in every sector. Mr. TS Darbari says that we must be mindful of the fact that technology has been pervading the Indian Railways for quite some time. On 8 July 2014, for instance, the railway budget had proposed bullet trains, bio-toilets, ultrasonic fixes for railway tracks, GIS (geographic information system) mapping, digitization of railway land, Wi-Fi connectivity at select stations and in trains, logistics support for e-commerce companies and going paperless in five years.

Mr. TS Darbari says that Texmaco has been working in this direction for a long time. According to him, “Emerging Technologies hold a big promise and India is globally one of the largest growing consumer markets where the applications of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Internet of Things, Blockchain, Quantum Technologies, and other emerging trends have immense opportunities.” Mr. Tribhuvan Darbari further said that keeping this in mind, we signed an MOU between Russoft and Bee Pitron of St. Petersburg, Russia several months ago to leverage the modern emerging technologies for civilian and defence purposes. Explaining the agreement, Mr. Tribhuvan Darbari says that it focuses on AI-based R&D, manufacturing, customization, technology transfer for manufacturing and other ancillary activities. The agreement enforces the clarion call of ”Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ made by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji.

Mr. TS Darbari also mentioned that being the fourth largest railway network in the world, the Indian Railway is an example of an efficiently managed system. With the infusion of AI in Indian Railways, the entire system can be transformed into an exemplary system for the world to take inspiration from.

According to the article published in Hindustan Times, Railway Board Chairman Mr. V K Yadav said, “The railways is set to go big with artificial intelligence and data analytics to improve its operational efficiency and has tied up with the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad to analyse the data generated by the national transporter.”

Mr. TS Darbari further adds that there are innumerable services in Indian Railways that can be enhanced by enforcing Artificial Intelligence like -Scheduling, prediction, monitoring and controlling train functions, data management, staff management, safety and signaling system, etc.”

Railway Board Chairman Mr. V K Yadav also mentioned that the Railway Board has taken a decision to appoint a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in every zonal railway whose mandate will be to keep track of emerging technologies in analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) and use it in the rail system.

“We have passengers-related data, train operations-related data, freight data and even asset-related data. We want to analyse all this data with the help of AI and analytics and use it in our Passenger Reservation System (PRS), the introduction of new trains and even predictive asset maintenance. We have tied up with the Indian School of Business (ISB) for this,” he said.

According to the article published in ‘Hindustan Times‘, “The Indian School of Business in Hyderabad has been assigned to plan an introductory capacity building program and formulate a report on the industrial practices of AI on rail transport and benchmarking. It will also develop a report on establishing the centre for excellence and an advanced capacity building program.”

The article published in ‘Hindustan Times’ further mentions that the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad has been assigned to plan an introductory capacity building program and formulate a report on the industrial practices of AI on rail transport and benchmarking. It will also develop a report on establishing the center for excellence and an advanced capacity building program.

Mr. TS Darbari congratulated the Minister of Railways, Mr. Piyush Goyal for this visionary move. He says that the move will transform our railways’ system and surely give a push to our economy.

Read the full article published on Hindustan Times here:

Railways to implement artificial intelligence, data analytics for better operational efficiency