New Delhi Rail Upgrade Brings AI Safety Tech to Indian Freight Corridors
In a major step towards modernising India’s rail safety infrastructure, a new agreement has been signed between Indian Railways and the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) to introduce artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) for automated freight train inspection. The partnership marks a transformative shift in how rolling stock health is monitored, leveraging real-time data to identify under-gear faults before they lead to breakdowns or derailments. Officials say the system will significantly reduce accident risks and operational delays.
The machine vision-based inspection system (MVIS), to be installed at four locations under DFCCIL’s responsibility, uses high-resolution imaging to scan moving trains for anomalies such as loose or missing components. These automated alerts allow maintenance teams to intervene before potential hazards escalate. Experts believe this digital surveillance will reduce dependence on manual inspections, which are time-consuming and prone to human error. By strengthening pre-emptive maintenance, the move also supports broader goals around freight efficiency, environmental sustainability, and operational transparency within the national transport grid.
The initiative forms part of Indian Railways’ wider efforts to build a “future-ready” rail ecosystem that integrates intelligent technologies into both freight and passenger services. In parallel, a separate agreement has been signed with the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) to develop multilingual AI interfaces for passengers. These platforms aim to support communication in 22 Indian languages, making railway services more accessible and inclusive for a diverse population. Officials describe these moves as essential for ensuring that digital transformation in transport is also equitable and people-centric.
While technical in nature, the adoption of AI systems carries broad implications for public safety, labour efficiency, and climate goals. As Indian cities grow and freight demands rise, automated safety technologies like MVIS will become critical for decongesting rail corridors and lowering carbon emissions. By reducing the likelihood of train accidents and enhancing service predictability, these systems support India’s long-term mobility and sustainability ambitions—turning railways into a smarter, safer, and greener pillar of national infrastructure.
