‘ASC Arjun’: In a first, Indian Railways deploys robot cop at Vizag station

Visakhapatnam: Indian Railways has deployed a robot cop at the Visakhapatnam Railway Station under the Waltair Division, marking a major step towards technology-driven rail security.

This is the first time in Indian Railways that a robot has been deployed on any station.

The robot, named ‘ASC Arjun’, was inaugurated on Thursday evening by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) Inspector General Alok Bohra and Divisional Railway Manager Lalitha Bohra.

First-of-its-kind initiative in Indian Railways

This is the first time such a robotic security system has been introduced anywhere in Indian Railways, officials said.

The initiative has been launched on a pilot basis at Visakhapatnam Railway Station, one of the busiest stations under East Coast Railway.

Role in Passenger Safety and Crowd Management

Speaking at the inauguration, the RPF Inspector General said the robot cop will assist railway police in enhancing station security, assisting passengers, managing crowd movement, and monitoring cleanliness and safety-sensitive areas.

The robot will be used as a support system for on-ground personnel, especially during peak hours and large gatherings.

Powered by AI and IoT Technologies

Equipped with advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, the robot can patrol the station round-the-clock.

It is capable of identifying suspicious individuals, detecting unauthorised intrusions, capturing and analysing images of habitual offenders, and assisting in theft-prevention and surveillance operations.

Officials said the system can compare real-time visuals with stored data to help police quickly identify suspects.

Multilingual alerts for public awareness

The robot can also issue alerts in Hindi and English, warning passengers about safety concerns and guiding them when required. This feature is expected to improve public awareness and responsiveness during emergencies.

Expansion planned across other stations

Railway officials confirmed that if the pilot proves successful, similar robot cops will be introduced at multiple railway stations in the future as part of Indian Railways’ broader push towards smart and technology-enabled security systems.

The introduction of ‘ASC Arjun’ is being seen as a significant milestone in modernising railway policing and enhancing passenger safety through innovation.