Indian Railways pilots AI-powered stain detection in mechanised laundries.
NEW DELHI: Indian Railways is harnessing artificial intelligence to ensure cleaner bed linen for millions of passengers travelling in air-conditioned coaches.
A pilot project using automated AI-camera systems for stain detection on washed linen has been launched in key divisions, adding a new layer of quality control to the existing mechanised laundry processes.
Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha that the initiative aims to strengthen inspection standards and enhance overall passenger comfort through technology-driven hygiene measures.
How the AI System Fits into Current Practices
The pilot is currently operational in the Pune Division of Central Railway and the Jaipur and Jodhpur divisions of North Western Railway.
The AI cameras work alongside established tools like Whito-Meters, which measure the effectiveness of cleaning by assessing linen whiteness, and extensive CCTV surveillance installed across laundry facilities to monitor operations in real time.
Each standard bedroll provided to AC class passengers includes two bed sheets, one pillow cover, and a hand towel. One sheet serves as the base on the berth, while the second acts as a protective cover under the blanket to prevent direct contact with the passenger.
This blanket cover sheet is washed after every single use, while other items follow prescribed codal life cycles based on usage and condition. Unserviceable linen is withdrawn and replaced according to railway norms.
Broader Efforts to Improve Passenger Experience
The AI pilot is part of a wider push to modernise linen management and address long-standing passenger feedback regarding hygiene.
As an additional comfort measure, blanket covers are now being provided to all AC class passengers on trains operated by North Western Railway and on the Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Kamakhya and Howrah. This small but significant addition has received positive responses from travellers.
Beyond laundry, Indian Railways has made substantial progress in surveillance infrastructure. CCTV systems have been installed at over 3,200 railway stations and more than 13,400 passenger coaches, contributing to both security and operational oversight.
Maintaining high standards of cleanliness in a network that carries millions daily is a persistent challenge. Traditional manual inspections, combined with Whito-Meters and CCTV, have formed the backbone of quality control, but the introduction of AI offers the potential for more consistent, objective, and rapid detection of stains that might escape the human eye.
If successful, the pilot could be scaled across more divisions and mechanised laundries, including those operating under public-private partnership models.
This aligns with Indian Railways’ ongoing digital transformation efforts from automated systems in ticketing and coaching operations to AI applications in safety, monitoring, and passenger services.
For passengers, especially those on long-distance journeys, cleaner and fresher linen translates directly to better travel comfort and confidence in the system.
As the railways continue expanding premium services like Vande Bharat trains, such behind-the-scenes technological upgrades play a crucial role in matching infrastructure growth with service quality.
The development reflects a broader trend of integrating smart technologies to solve age-old operational issues while keeping passenger satisfaction at the centre.
Further updates on the pilot’s performance and potential nationwide rollout are expected in the coming months.
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