Pune: To enhance passenger safety and reduce railway accidents, Pune railways are developing a 'robot' designed to monitor and inspect railway tracks.

This innovative machine will patrol the tracks, checking the condition of the rails, joints, fittings, and detecting any cracks. If issues are found, the robot will promptly report them to senior officials and the control room, ensuring immediate action is taken.

The development of the robot is taking place at the Ghorpadi depot, with testing set to begin soon. This initiative is being piloted in Pune, and upon successful implementation, it will be rolled out nationwide.

The frequent railway accidents in India due to cracked rails or dislodged fishplates have prompted this technological advancement.

Robot Patrol Functions:

• Section-wise rail inspections

• Checking fittings connecting sleepers and rails

• Inspecting petrol clips and fishplates

• Detecting rail cracks

• Monitoring water on tracks during the monsoon

• Sending real-time data to the control room

Control Room Data Reporting:

• The robot will record and send footage while patrolling

• It will photograph and pinpoint the exact location of any cracks

• Reports will include repair timelines for damaged tracks

• This will streamline efforts to ensure track safety

Advantages in Ghat Sections:

The Lonavala-Karjat ghat section on the Pune-Mumbai railway route presents significant challenges for trackmen, especially during monsoon and winter seasons. The deployment of the robot in these areas will be particularly beneficial, as it will perform accurate inspections despite landslides and heavy fog.

Indu Dubey, Pune Divisional Railway Manager said, "Ensuring track safety is crucial for safe railway travel. While various resources are currently used for this purpose, the introduction of robots marks a significant advancement. Development is expected to be completed in the next one to two months, after which the robot will begin its patrol duties."