India’s railway system is set for a transformative digital upgrade, as the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) and the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate multilingual artificial intelligence across key railway services. This initiative will enable passengers to access real-time train information, lodge grievances, and interact with railway platforms in 22 Indian languages, eliminating language barriers in public transportation.
The MoU was formally signed in New Delhi by BHASHINI CEO Amitabh Nag and CRIS Managing Director G.V.L. Satya Kumar, marking a new era of AI-driven accessibility for railway passengers. Through this collaboration, BHASHINI’s cutting-edge language technology stack—including Automatic Speech Recognition, Text-to-Text Translation, Text-to-Speech, and Optical Character Recognition—will be integrated into CRIS-managed systems such as the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) and RailMadad.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Nag described the partnership as a breakthrough in how millions of passengers interact with railway services daily, ensuring that language is no longer an obstacle to accessing critical public infrastructure. Kumar echoed this sentiment, stating that the implementation of AI-powered solutions would significantly enhance accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in passenger-facing digital platforms.
As part of the agreement, BHASHINI and CRIS will co-develop multilingual chatbots and voice assistants to support passengers, introduce multilingual interfaces at railway enquiry counters, and scale AI-powered solutions across mobile apps, websites, kiosks, and call centers. These innovations will allow real-time speech-based interactions in multiple Indian languages, improving the railway experience for millions of commuters.
The partnership aligns with the government’s broader Digital India vision, positioning India as a global leader in AI-driven public services. A series of joint technical workshops and pilot deployments will soon commence to fine-tune the implementation of these multilingual solutions, ensuring seamless integration across the railway network.
