South Coast Railway GM Sandeep Mathur inspected the 'Sarika AI' passenger assistance system, a multilingual voice-based prototype designed to transform commuter experiences at Visakhapatnam station.

  • General Manager Sandeep Mathur reviewed the 'Sarika AI' prototype at Visakhapatnam Railway Station.
  • The system supports natural voice interaction in 9 different languages for real-time updates.
  • Future plans include integrating the AI tool into the official RailOne mobile application.

The General Manager of South Coast Railway (SCoR), Sandeep Mathur, accompanied by Divisional Railway Manager Lalit Bohra and senior zonal officials, conducted a comprehensive inspection of passenger facilities at the Visakhapatnam Railway Station on Monday, August 17, 2026. The visit focused on optimizing station convenience and evaluating the operational efficiency of existing amenities.

The centerpiece of the inspection was the live demonstration of 'Sarika AI', a cutting-edge passenger assistance system. This prototype voice-based interface is currently undergoing rigorous pilot testing to determine its efficacy in handling high-volume commuter queries in a real-world environment.

Read Also:New York Halts Large Data Center Construction Amid AI‑Driven Energy Concerns

Developed through a strategic collaboration between the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), Ninja Media AI Ad Tech Pvt. Ltd., and the Commercial Department of the Visakhapatnam Division, the system is designed to break language barriers by providing interactions in nine different languages.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the deployment of Sarika AI signals a paradigm shift in Indian Railways' approach to passenger service. By moving toward AI-driven humanoid and kiosk interfaces, the railway is reducing the dependency on manual inquiry counters and embracing a 'frictionless' travel experience. This technological leap is critical for managing the massive scale of Indian rail traffic.

The system provides critical real-time data, including train schedules, platform allocations, delay notifications, and exact coach positions. Beyond logistics, it serves as a digital concierge, guiding commuters toward booking counters, waiting halls, cloakrooms, food courts, drinking water stations, lifts, and emergency medical help. The deployment includes both humanoid robots and stationary kiosks strategically placed across the station complex.

"The transition to AI-powered passenger interfaces is not just about luxury; it is about operational efficiency and inclusivity for non-English speaking commuters."

Following the demonstration, GM Sandeep Mathur suggested several user-centric refinements to make the interaction more intuitive. The project is being executed in two phases: Phase-I is currently dedicated to field demonstrations and system stress testing, while Phase-II will see the integration of the Sarika AI tool into the RailOne mobile app, bringing the assistant directly to the passenger's smartphone.

Did You Know?: The Sarika AI system can interact in 9 languages, making it one of the most linguistically diverse passenger assistance tools implemented in Indian stations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the primary function of Sarika AI?
A: It is a voice-based AI interface that provides real-time train schedules, platform info, and station navigation in 9 languages.

Q2: How will passengers access this AI in the future?
A: While currently available as kiosks and humanoids, it will soon be integrated into the RailOne mobile application.