Indian Railways Launch Tech-Driven Overhaul: AI Surveillance, QR Codes, and Cooperative Ride-Hailing

Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, chaired a high-level review meeting at Rail Bhawan to accelerate reforms aimed at transforming India’s busiest railway stations into safer, smarter, and more passenger-friendly spaces. The meeting focused on station access, passenger amenities, security reinforcements, and crowd management, with New Delhi Railway Station chosen as the pilot site for these innovations.

These reforms will first be implemented at New Delhi Railway Station and, based on the lessons learned, will subsequently be rolled out to other stations.

Key Highlights of the Reforms

1. AI-Powered Surveillance Network

• Comprehensive camera coverage across platforms, concourses, entry-exit points, and funnel areas.
• Real-time monitoring through an Exception Event Display-based control room, where AI alerts staff to unusual or unsafe events.
• Minister Vaishnaw described cameras as the “eyes” and AI as the “brain” of the system.
• Railway Protection Force (RPF) to shift from manual checks to surveillance-led monitoring, ensuring only ticketed passengers gain entry.

2. Colour-Coded Uniforms & ID Cards

• Fluorescent jackets for railway employees.
• Distinct colour-coded jackets for non-employees such as vendors, sahayaks, IRCTC staff, and contractual workers.
• Mandatory ID cards with detailed identification to enhance accountability and streamline security checks.
• System to be replicated across the North Zone and later nationwide.

3. QR Code-Based Access Control

• Pilot project at New Delhi Station ahead of Diwali & Chhath festival rush.
• Segregated entry for Reserved ticket holders, Monthly Season Ticket holders, and Unreserved passengers.
• Designed to reduce congestion and improve passenger flow.

4. RailOne App Integration with Bharat Taxi

• Seamless last-mile connectivity through integration with Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform.
• Developed in collaboration with RailTel to reduce chaos outside station premises.
• Supports the government’s “Sahkar se Samriddhi” vision by strengthening cooperative-led mobility solutions.

5. Holding Areas for Crowd Management

• Designated holding zones for Unreserved travellers at 76 stations.
• Controlled, phased access to platforms to prevent overcrowding.
• Improved signage and upgraded train information services to keep passengers informed.

Broader Impact

These reforms reflect Indian Railways’ commitment to leveraging technology and infrastructure upgrades to enhance passenger safety, comfort, and convenience. By piloting innovations at New Delhi Station and scaling them across the network, the Railways aims to deliver a seamless travel experience from station entry to last-mile connectivity for millions of daily commuters.

The initiative also underscores the government’s push towards AI-driven governance, cooperative-led solutions, and citizen-centric infrastructure development, setting a new benchmark for urban mobility in India.

Honeywell Unveils Commercial Launch of AI-Powered Control Room Assistant Following Successful Pilot

Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) today announced the commercial launch of Experion Operations Assistant, an AI-powered solution designed to transform how industrial operators monitor plant performance, make critical decisions and respond to alarm incidents before they happen.

Built on Honeywell’s flagship distributed control system, Experion PKS, Experion Operations Assistant merges historical data with real-time operational insights to allow operators to forecast and respond to potential critical scenarios associated with unsafe operations and production losses. The solution aims to bridge the gap between autonomous technologies and control room operators.

The commercial launch follows the recent pilot program during which Chevron and TotalEnergies were among the partners who leveraged Honeywell’s Experion Operations Assistant in their operations to help minimize unplanned downtime. In its pilot phase, the AI-powered assistant made predictions an average of 5-10 minutes before alarm incidents would have happened, enabling operators to quickly implement corrective actions and avoid potential events.

“Industrials are under pressure to avoid unplanned downtime and maximize the productivity of existing assets, while navigating the massive knowledge transfer of a retiring workforce,” said Jim Masso, president and CEO of Honeywell Process Automation. “By combining more than 50 years of process automation expertise with site-specific knowledge, data and advanced AI, Experion Operations Assistant helps operators anticipate issues earlier, respond with confidence and operate more safely and effectively. Throughout our pilot phase, Experion Operations Assistant delivered tangible, real-world results across multiple customer sites, highlighting the immense opportunity as the solution scales.”

As part of Honeywell’s Experion PKS distributed control system network, the Honeywell Experion Operations Assistant is designed to seamlessly integrate into existing control room environments, leveraging the systems already in place and building on the legacy site-specific data. The solution is centered upon its capability to capture site-specific knowledge and then use language models to analyze this data in real-time in order to proactively advise operators of impending issues.

For more information on Honeywell Experion Operations Assistant, visit Honeywell.com.

About Honeywell:

Honeywell is an integrated operating company serving a broad range of industries and geographies around the world. Our business is aligned with three powerful megatrends – automation, the future of aviation and energy transition – underpinned by our Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Forge IoT platform. As a trusted partner, we help organizations solve the world's toughest, most complex challenges, providing actionable solutions and innovations through our Aerospace Technologies, Industrial Automation, Building Automation and Energy and Sustainability Solutions business segments that help make the world smarter and safer as well as more secure and sustainable.

New Terumo–Tata Elxsi Center to Accelerate AI-powered Medical Device Innovation

Tata Elxsi, a global leader in design and technology services, and Terumo Corporation, a leading medical innovation company, have inaugurated the Terumo–Tata Elxsi Offshore Development Center. The new facility is dedicated to advancing cardiac and vascular solutions, strengthening engineering and innovation capabilities, and providing continuous lifecycle support across international markets.

Driving Next-Gen Medical Technologies

The center brings together multidisciplinary teams, combining Tata Elxsi’s expertise in design, engineering, verification, regulatory compliance, and localisation with cutting-edge applications of AI, GenAI, and digital technologies in software engineering. This integrated approach enables faster product development, regional adaptation, and improved cost efficiency while addressing the growing demand for patient-centric medical devices.

Enhancing Global Availability

By leveraging Tata Elxsi’s cross-functional capabilities, the collaboration aims to improve the reliability and performance of cardiovascular technologies, ensuring they meet stringent industry standards and the evolving needs of healthcare providers and patients worldwide.

Fumihisa Hirose, President of Terumo’s Cardiac & Vascular Company, emphasized the strategic importance of the center: “This new Offshore Development Center strengthens our ability to innovate faster and deliver high-quality medical technologies across global markets. Tata Elxsi’s integrated design, engineering, and regulatory expertise will help us accelerate our global product roadmap while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.”

Sreevatsa Sahasranaman, Senior Vice President & Head – Healthcare & Life Sciences at Tata Elxsi, highlighted the long-term vision: "This Offshore Development Center represents a comprehensive partnership model with Terumo to bring Tata Elxsi’s multi-disciplinary expertise to drive innovation and cost efficiencies across Terumo’s cardiovascular portfolio. Enhanced by AI and GenAI-powered technologies, we are committed to helping Terumo deliver next-gen medical technologies to global and emerging markets.”

Strategic Impact

The collaboration marks a significant milestone in the healthcare technology sector, reinforcing India’s role as a hub for advanced engineering and design services while supporting Terumo’s mission to deliver innovative cardiovascular solutions worldwide.

India Opens Bidding for World’s Strongest Magnets Manufacturing Under ₹7,280 Crore Scheme

India has taken a decisive step toward building self-reliance in advanced materials with the launch of bidding for integrated Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) manufacturing facilities. The Ministry of Heavy Industries has released the Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting companies to set up sintered NdFeB REPM plants with a total capacity of 6,000 Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA).

Sintered NdFeB REPM (Rare Earth Permanent Magnet) refers to high-performance magnets made from Neodymium (Nd), Iron (Fe), and Boron (B) through a sintering process. These magnets are among the strongest in the world and are widely used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, aerospace, defence, and advanced electronics.

A First-of-Its-Kind Initiative

Approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2025, the ₹7,280 crore scheme is the first national program dedicated to rare earth magnet manufacturing. These magnets—among the strongest in the world—are critical components in electric vehicles, wind turbines, aerospace systems, defence technologies, and high-end electronics. By establishing a complete value chain from NdPr oxide to finished magnets, India aims to cut import dependence and position itself as a global hub in this strategic sector.

Incentives and Support

• Capital subsidy of ₹750 crore
• Sales-linked incentives worth ₹6,450 crore
• Assured supply of NdPr oxide from IREL (India) Ltd. for the three lowest bidders

Each selected beneficiary will be allocated a manufacturing capacity between 600 MTPA and 1,200 MTPA, ensuring balanced distribution across multiple players.

Transparent Bidding Process

The bidding will be conducted online through the Central Public Procurement (CPP) Portal using a two-stage Least Cost System (LCS):

• Technical Bid
• Financial Bid

• Tender documents available: 20 March 2026
• Pre-bid conference: 7 April 2026
• Bid submission deadline: 28 May 2026
• Technical bid opening: 29 May 2026

Strategic Importance

Rare Earth Permanent Magnets are indispensable for clean energy and advanced technology. Their role in electric mobility and renewable energy aligns with India’s broader goals of sustainability and energy independence. By fostering domestic production, the scheme not only reduces reliance on imports but also strengthens India’s position in global supply chains.

Looking Ahead

This initiative signals India’s ambition to lead in high-tech manufacturing. With strong government backing, transparent processes, and lucrative incentives, the scheme is expected to attract major industry players and accelerate India’s journey toward technological self-reliance.

Union Power Minister inaugurates the maiden edition of the Biggest Electricity Show of India – Bharat Electricity Summit 2026

Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Sh. Manohar Lal inaugurated ‘Bharat Electricity Summit 2026’, a four-day global Conference-cum-Exhibition for the power sector, being held under the patronage of Ministry of Power from 19-22 March 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. Shri Pralhad Joshi, Minister of New and Renewable Energy and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India; Shri Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India; Shri Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Government of India; Shri Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) were also present during inauguration.

While hailing achievements such as achieving its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of 50% cumulative non-fossil electric capacity nearly five years ahead of schedule, the SHANTI Act 2025, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, transition from power deficit to a power surplus nation, exponential growth in solar energy capacity from 2.8 GW solar capacity to over 143 GW today, Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs underscored the unprecedented investment opportunities of approx. INR 200 lakh crore over the next two decades in India’s power sector. In his keynote address, the Minister also highlighted India’s remarkable progress with a 72% expansion in transmission infrastructure to over 5 lakh circuit kilometers, meeting 250 GW peak demand in 2024-25 and being fully prepared to meet peak demand of 270 GW and beyond, while positioning itself as a future global exporter of affordable energy as the backbone of India’s vision to become a developed nation by 2047, he also outlined initiatives such as cross-border energy connectivity, undersea transmission networks.

He further added, “Today is not just another day, it is a day of resolve for India’s energy transformation. From relying on conventional resources to now returning to the power of the sun, we are completing a full circle. Energy is at the heart of development, and as India moves towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, our focus is on innovation, affordability, and global collaboration. This ‘Conference of Light’ is not just an event, but a movement to take India’s energy leadership to the world.”

Shri Pralhad Joshi, Minister of New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, emphasized that while thermal power will continue to serve as the backbone of the energy system, renewable energy represents the only sustainable long-term pathway, underscoring the need for a balanced transition driven by scale, speed, and skill.

Complementing this vision, Shri. Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India highlighted that India’s installed power capacity has more than doubled since 2014, with renewable energy witnessing exponential growth, from 2.8 GW solar capacity to over 143 GW today. He emphasized that over 32 lakh households and 23 lakh farmers are already contributing to clean energy generation, reflecting a shift towards a participative energy economy.

Adding to this, Shri Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, stated that India now operates one of the world’s largest synchronised grids, supported by advanced balancing systems, large-scale smart meter deployment and strong policy frameworks.

He further added, “India’s power sector transformation over the past decade offers a strong global model, driven by policy clarity, scale, and innovation. From near-zero peak deficits to one of the world’s largest synchronized grids, and from falling solar tariffs to smart infrastructure rollout, we are building a system that is efficient, reliable, and investment-ready. The next phase will be defined by technology, data, and global partnerships.”

During the inaugural session, the Ministry of Power released key strategic reports including the National Resource Adequacy Plan, outlining a comprehensive roadmap to meet India’s growing electricity demand through a balanced energy mix, and the Transmission Plan for Integration of over 900 GW Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity by 2035-36. The transmission blueprint envisages the development of 1,37,500 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 8,27,600 MVA substation capacity, with an estimated investment of ₹7.93 lakh crore, ensuring seamless evacuation of renewable energy and strengthening grid resilience.

The Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 is a Ministry of Power and industry-led initiative. The summit will host more than 100 high-level conference sessions featuring over 300 speakers, representatives from more than 80 countries, over 500 exhibitors including over 100 startups and more than 25,000 visitors, making it one of the largest electricity-focused platforms globally.

For more information about Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, please visit: www.bharatelectricitysummit.com