The South Central Railway (SCR) has taken a significant step towards modernising its passenger enquiry services with the launch of two new artificial intelligence-based help systems, named 'Bholu Mini' and 'Bholu Max'. These smart assistants were officially demonstrated on Friday at Rail Nilayam in Secunderabad, in the presence of SCR General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, Hyderabad Divisional Railway Manager Santosh Kumar Verma, and other senior railway officials.
Trial Introduction at Two Stations
The new systems have been introduced on a trial basis at two stations within the Hyderabad division. 'Bholu Mini' has been installed at Malkajgiri railway station, while the more advanced 'Bholu Max' has been deployed at Kacheguda railway station. Both systems were conceptualised, designed, and developed in-house, including the software coding, by Dr Anirudh Pamar, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of the Hyderabad division.
Features of Bholu Mini
'Bholu Mini' is a voice-based AI kiosk designed especially for local commuters who prefer to communicate in Telugu. Passengers can activate it simply by saying "Hello" and then ask for train timings, platform numbers, station facilities, and other travel-related information. The system responds in a user-friendly manner, making it easy for daily travellers to access essential information without needing to interact with human staff.
Advanced Capabilities of Bholu Max
'Bholu Max', installed at Kacheguda, is a more advanced passenger assistance kiosk that combines voice support with a touchscreen system. It supports 12 Indian languages, allowing travellers from different regions to access information easily. This multilingual capability ensures that passengers from various linguistic backgrounds can use the kiosk without any language barrier. The touchscreen interface provides an additional mode of interaction for those who prefer visual navigation.
The introduction of these AI assistants is part of SCR's broader initiative to leverage technology for improving passenger experience. By deploying such systems, the railway aims to reduce the workload on staff and provide faster, more accurate information to commuters. The trial phase will help assess the performance and user acceptance of these kiosks before considering wider deployment across other stations in the division.
With the successful demonstration, SCR officials expressed optimism about the potential of these systems to transform the way passengers access travel information. The in-house development also highlights the capability of railway personnel to innovate and create cost-effective solutions for operational challenges.
