Indian Railways Embraces AI Frontier: Indigenous Humanoid Robot ‘ASC ARJUN’ Debuts at Visakhapatnam

VISAKHAPATNAM | JANUARY 24, 2026 – In a landmark move toward the digital transformation of public transport, Indian Railways has officially deployed ASC ARJUN, a state-of-the-art humanoid robot, at Visakhapatnam Railway Station. Designed to revolutionize passenger safety and service delivery, this first-of-its-kind robotic officer was unveiled by Inspector General (RPF) Alok Bohra and Divisional Railway Manager Lalit Bohra.

Developed indigenously over the course of a year by a specialized team in Visakhapatnam, ASC ARJUN represents a significant milestone in “Make in India” technology, blending artificial intelligence with real-world security needs to support Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel during peak travel hours.Packed with advanced features, the 165-centimeter-tall robot utilizes a Face Recognition System (FRS) for intrusion detection and AI-based crowd monitoring to prevent platform congestion.

ASC ARJUN is programmed for semi-autonomous navigation, allowing it to patrol predefined paths while avoiding obstacles and providing 24/7 surveillance. Beyond security, the robot serves as a multilingual assistant—delivering safety announcements in English, Hindi, and Telugu—and is equipped with thermal sensors for early fire and smoke detection.

With its ability to greet passengers with a Namaste and provide real-time information via an interactive interface, ASC ARJUN marks the beginning of a more modern, automated, and passenger-centric era for the Indian Railways network.