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New Delhi: Indian Railways has installed AI-powered video surveillance and facial recognition systems across 1,874 stations to enhance passenger safety and real-time monitoring. The initiative is part of the innovative measures taken during 2025-26, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
Highlighting the importance of this technological advancement, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who had earlier stated that “the cameras will be the eyes of the system, and AI will be its brain,” emphasised the transformative role of artificial intelligence in strengthening railway security.
Passenger information systems have also witnessed major upgrades with the expansion of the Integrated Passenger Information System (IPIS).
Equipped with Electronic Train Indicator Boards, Coach Guidance Systems, and Public Address Systems, IPIS ensures the timely dissemination of train-related information. The integration of IPIS with the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) enables automatic, real-time announcements at stations. To date, this integration has been achieved at 1,405 stations across Indian Railways.
Further enhancing communication capabilities, the provision of Tunnel Communication Systems has been undertaken across various railway zones, including the strategically significant Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. This system ensures uninterrupted radio communication between personnel inside tunnels to headquarters and operation control centres, thereby improving safety and coordination in challenging terrains, the statement explained.
A major achievement has also been the enhancement of the Unified Telecom Backbone Infrastructure through Internet Protocol Multi-Protocol Label Switching (IP MPLS) technology. This high-capacity network is being developed to meet present and future bandwidth requirements of mission-critical railway applications. The system enables centralised accessibility of video surveillance and will support core railway systems such as Mobile Train Radio Communication (MTRC), Passenger Reservation System (PRS), Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), Freight Operations Information System (FOIS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), video conferencing, and other operational applications.
So far, IP MPLS has been successfully commissioned at 1,396 railway stations, marking a significant step towards a digitally integrated railway ecosystem, the statement explained.
These initiatives undertaken during the year underscore Indian Railways’ commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovation for building a safer, smarter, and more efficient railway network.
The continued expansion of telecom infrastructure, deployment of AI-driven systems, and enhancement of passenger information services are collectively contributing towards a modernised rail ecosystem that is responsive to the needs of passengers and aligned with the vision of Digital India, the statement added.
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Caption: Passengers wait in a queue outside New Delhi Railway Station to board trains for home on Saturday, March 4, 2026. (IANS/Prem Nath Pandey)
–IANS
