Bhilai goes high-tech: SECR introduces AI wagon detection

Raipur: South East Central Railway (SECR) has commissioned an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based wagon damage detection system at the PP Yard in Bhilai to improve rail safety and operational efficiency. The system uses machine learning algorithms to identify physical damages in goods carriages arriving for yard examination.The technology automatically detects defects such as missing or damaged doors, residual consignment, lack of floor sheets, and missing body panels, said SECR official. Once a rake enters the yard and passes through the scanning unit, the system generates a detailed report for each wagon number, highlighting specific faults.Infrastructure includes six high-definition machine vision cameras, specialised light sources, and a dedicated server room. Images captured by these cameras are processed on the server to provide an accurate status report of every wagon. By providing a comprehensive overview of potential damages before the manual inspection begins, the system allows personnel to plan repairs and complete maintenance work faster. Based on self-learning AI technology, the system improves its accuracy over time by analysing the data it collects.SECR GM Tarun Prakash has directed the zone to adopt advanced technologies to make rail safety, operational efficiency, and asset maintenance more effective. The installation of this detection system is a step towards ensuring faster identification of damages and more organised yard inspections, leading to improved freight transport efficiency, according to the GM.