Visakhapatnam: In a first-of-its-kind move, East Coast Railway has deployed a humanoid robot named ‘ASC Arjun’ at Visakhapatnam Railway Station, marking a major leap toward technology-driven railway security and passenger assistance.
Introduced by the Waltair Division in coordination with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the robot will work as a digital sentry—monitoring crowds, assisting passengers, detecting intrusions, and relaying real-time alerts to railway control rooms.
🚨 Indian Railways introduces its first humanoid robot ‘ASC Arjun’ at Visakhapatnam aimed at boosting passenger interaction and railway security. pic.twitter.com/de0MIBVPrz
— Beats in Brief 🗞️ (@beatsinbrief) January 23, 2026
Officials said the initiative is part of Indian Railways’ larger push to modernise security systems and improve response time at high-footfall stations.
A Robot With a Mission
Designed and developed indigenously in Visakhapatnam, ASC Arjun is equipped with artificial intelligence, facial recognition software, IoT connectivity and obstacle sensors. The humanoid can patrol platforms, identify suspicious movement, monitor crowd density, and make automated public announcements in Hindi, English and Telugu.
The robot can also detect known offenders through facial recognition and immediately notify RPF personnel, helping prevent crimes before they escalate.
Indian Railways Deploys Humanoid Robot ‘ASC ARJUN’ at Visakhapatnam Railway Station
This deployment marks a first-of-its-kind initiative on the Indian Railways network. It reflects the organisation’s commitment to adopting new and emerging technologies for public convenience and… pic.twitter.com/BgkgWhPh7P
— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 24, 2026
Why “Arjun”?
Railway officials said the robot is named after Arjuna from the Mahabharata, symbolising precision, alertness and focus—qualities the system is expected to deliver while safeguarding passengers.
A Step Toward Smart Stations
Authorities stressed that the robot is not meant to replace human staff, but to support RPF teams by reducing manual surveillance pressure and improving monitoring accuracy.
The deployment is being treated as a pilot project, and its performance will be closely tracked before similar systems are introduced at other major stations across the country.
Public Reaction
Passengers at Visakhapatnam station were seen stopping to take photos and videos of the humanoid guard, expressing both curiosity and optimism about technology making railway travel safer.
The Big Picture
With over 20 million passengers travelling daily on Indian Railways, crowd management and security remain critical challenges. ASC Arjun represents a bold experiment—where AI meets public safety—and could redefine how India’s railway stations are protected in the future.
For now, Visakhapatnam becomes the first station in the country where a humanoid stands watch alongside uniformed guards—silent, tireless, and always alert.
