Innovation in Motion: The Story Behind VISTAR

The journey that led to the launch of our latest innovation, VISTAR, began with '#AIReady RITES'—our vision to make RITES a digitally driven company. This roadmap is designed not only to improve our internal processes but also to transform client engagement and offer AI-enabled products and services.

Today, I’m excited to share how we, at RITES, have taken a significant leap in transforming rail inspections through the power of AI. The introduction of VISTAR (Visual Inspection System Through AI for Rails) at SAIL Bhilai marks a new era for quality assurance in the rail sector—one that is smarter, faster, and more efficient.

For me, this project is more than just a technological upgrade; it’s the culmination of efforts to build our own capabilities, collaborate with industry partners, and share a vision for the future of infrastructure. When we first conceptualised the idea of combining AI and computer vision for rail inspections, we knew we were onto something that could give a real boost to the industry.

VISTAR isn’t just another tool. It’s an AI-powered intelligent system designed to detect even the smallest defects and dimensional variations that the human eye might miss. With six industrial-grade cameras working in unison, VISTAR captures a staggering 7,800 images for each 130-metre rail, examining every detail with unparalleled precision. The RITES team is also working on further upgrading VISTAR to take input from this system to control and improve manufacturing processes.

Our partnership with the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) and iHub, a joint venture of IIT-Roorkee and the Ministry of Science and Technology, has been pivotal in making this project a reality. Working with the BSP has been a rewarding experience—not only because of the scale of the project, but also due to our shared commitment to innovation. This pilot project is the beginning of something bigger—a shift towards data-driven quality assurance that doesn’t just meet today’s needs but prepares us for tomorrow’s challenges. This system has the potential for application not only in rails but also in other safety-critical components such as wheels, axles, and similar products in railways and other sectors.

Looking back, I see VISTAR as a testament to our drive at RITES to push boundaries and embrace cutting-edge solutions that enhance our services. The road ahead is exciting, and I’m confident this is just the beginning of a new chapter in quality assurance. With VISTAR, we are not only improving efficiency but also contributing to sustainable and reliable solutions for the industry.

This is a proud moment for me and #TeamRITES. The future of digitally driven Quality Assurance is here, and we are leading the change.