Humanoid Robot ASC ARJUN Deployed at Visakhapatnam Railway Station to Boost Passenger Safety

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Indian Railways deploys humanoid robot ASC ARJUN at Visakhapatnam Railway Station for enhanced security.
The robot supports RPF with AI-based crowd monitoring, face recognition and emergency detection.
Built entirely in Visakhapatnam, ASC ARJUN marks a major step in indigenous railway innovation.

Visakhapatnam: Indian Railways has taken a landmark step in modernization by deploying the humanoid robot ASC ARJUN at Visakhapatnam Railway Station.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening passenger safety, improving security operations, and enhancing service delivery, making it one of the first such deployments across India’s railway network.

Humanoid Robot ASC ARJUN to Work With RPF Teams

The robot will function alongside Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, assisting with station management, especially during peak passenger movement.

Officials said the move reflects Indian Railways’ broader push toward adopting emerging technologies to improve operational efficiency and passenger convenience.

ASC ARJUN was formally unveiled by Inspector General (RPF) Alok Bohra and Divisional Railway Manager Lalit Bohra, in the presence of Senior Divisional Security Commandant A.K. Dubey.

Indigenous Innovation Developed in Visakhapatnam

Railway authorities highlighted that ASC ARJUN is a fully home-grown project, designed and developed entirely in Visakhapatnam.

The robot is the outcome of over a year of dedicated work by a specialized technical team, showcasing Indian Railways’ ability to integrate advanced systems into everyday station operations.

The Ministry of Railways described it as a milestone in innovation-driven, indigenously developed security solutions.

Advanced AI Features for Surveillance and Crowd Monitoring

ASC ARJUN is equipped with cutting-edge security technology, including:

Face Recognition System (FRS) for intrusion detection
AI-based crowd monitoring
Real-time alert generation for RPF control rooms

These tools are expected to help security personnel respond more quickly to suspicious activity and manage large crowds effectively.

Multilingual Announcements and Emergency Detection

Beyond surveillance, the robot can make automated public announcements in:

English
Hindi
Telugu

This feature is designed to guide passengers, share safety instructions, and promote awareness.

ASC ARJUN also includes fire and smoke detection systems, supporting timely emergency response within station premises.

Round-the-Clock Patrolling With Obstacle Avoidance

The humanoid robot features semi-autonomous navigation with obstacle-avoidance capabilities, enabling it to patrol platforms continuously.

Railway officials said this will optimise manpower deployment, ensuring better surveillance coverage without increasing human workload.

Passenger Interaction With Gestures and Assistance

In addition to security functions, ASC ARJUN has been built to interact with passengers.

The robot can:

Greet passengers with a ‘Namaste’
Salute RPF personnel
Provide information through an interactive interface

This makes it not only a security tool but also a passenger-friendly assistant.

Indian Railways Expands Technology-Driven Safety Measures

The Ministry stated that the deployment of ASC ARJUN is part of a wider national effort to leverage AI, robotics, and indigenous innovation for building a safer and more passenger-centric railway environment.

With this pioneering rollout at Visakhapatnam, Indian Railways signals a future where advanced robotics could play a key role in everyday public transport infrastructure.