How AI rover 'Dac Arjun' will make railway stations safer for passengers

In a move aimed at strengthening passenger safety through advanced technology, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) introduced an Artificial Intelligence ( AI )-powered robotic surveillance system named 'DAC Arjun'. Designed to enhance security, detect emergencies and support crowd management, the smart rover will assist railway authorities in monitoring station premises in real time. Developed at a cost of around Rs 40 lakh, the AI-enabled rover is equipped with seven 360-degree AI cameras and advanced surveillance technology. It is capable of continuously monitoring railway stations and instantly alerting officials if it detects passengers entering railway tracks, suspicious activities or emergency situations such as fire incidents. Besides surveillance, the rover will also provide important information to passengers at railway stations. AI Surveillance The AI-powered rover was initially deployed at Puri Railway Station in the first phase and was supposed to remain in service until the conclusion of the Bahuda Yatra. Following its deployment in Puri , the rover will be introduced at Bhubaneswar Railway Station as part of East Coast Railway's efforts to make railway services more technology-driven. East Coast Railway General Manager Parmeshwar Funkwal said the organisation consistently adopted technology to improve passenger safety. "East Coast Railway has always used technology for passenger safety. In January 2026, we introduced a Human Robocop at Visakhapatnam Railway Station. Building on that experience, we improved the technology, addressed its shortcomings and developed this AI-enabled rover," he said. Facial Recognition, Crowd Monitoring And Instant Alerts According to railway officials, DAC Arjun is designed to assist authorities in managing heavy passenger movement at busy railway stations. The rover uses AI cameras to estimate crowd strength through headcount analysis and is equipped with facial recognition technology. Explaining its capabilities, Funkwal said that if officials upload the photograph of a criminal or a missing person into the system, the rover can identify the individual within its operational area and immediately generate an alert upon detection. Also Read: ECoR deploys AI-powered rover 'DAC Arjun' to enhance passenger safety at Puri railway station East Coast Railway officials said the introduction of the AI-powered rover is intended to strengthen passenger security while improving operational efficiency through intelligent surveillance at major railway stations.