Bengaluru's Namma Metro to Deploy AI Drones for Pillar Damage Detection

16 Jan 2025 CW Team

The AI technology will not only identify defects on the tracks but also assess their potential impact and notify BMRCL's engineering team.

Sumit Bhatnagar, Director of Operations and Maintenance at Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), shared with the publication that Namma Metro plans to invite bids for AI-drone inspections of Reach 1 (MG Road – Byappanahalli), the city's first operational metro corridor, which was launched in 2011. He explained that the AI-driven systems would evaluate the extent of any structural damage and send alerts, allowing engineers to take timely maintenance actions.

The AI technology will detect defects and analyse their potential impact, notifying BMRCL's engineering team. Bhatnagar further added that the AI-powered evaluations would determine if the identified issues pose significant risks and recommend appropriate solutions, such as epoxy sealing or other repairs.

This technological upgrade is expected to reduce operational costs and increase the efficiency of BMRCL's engineering division. Currently, structural inspections are carried out manually with the use of binoculars, cameras, and hydraulic platforms. The introduction of drones and AI will minimize manual labour, enhance precision, and speed up infrastructure assessments.

In a related development, Bengaluru's traffic police have already adopted drone technology to monitor traffic flow across the city. Drones have been deployed at high-traffic areas such as Hebbal, Central Silk Board, Ibballur, Marathahalli, KR Puram, Guruguntapalya, Sarakki, and Banshankari bus stand to oversee congestion, particularly during peak hours.

Bengaluru is set to deploy drones to improve the safety monitoring of concrete metro pillars and viaducts along metro tracks. The drones, equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, will capture images to detect cracks and structural damages. The AI technology will not only identify defects on the tracks but also assess their potential impact and notify BMRCL's engineering team. Sumit Bhatnagar, Director of Operations and Maintenance at Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), shared with the publication that Namma Metro plans to invite bids for AI-drone inspections of Reach 1 (MG Road – Byappanahalli), the city's first operational metro corridor, which was launched in 2011. He explained that the AI-driven systems would evaluate the extent of any structural damage and send alerts, allowing engineers to take timely maintenance actions. The AI technology will detect defects and analyse their potential impact, notifying BMRCL's engineering team. Bhatnagar further added that the AI-powered evaluations would determine if the identified issues pose significant risks and recommend appropriate solutions, such as epoxy sealing or other repairs. This technological upgrade is expected to reduce operational costs and increase the efficiency of BMRCL's engineering division. Currently, structural inspections are carried out manually with the use of binoculars, cameras, and hydraulic platforms. The introduction of drones and AI will minimize manual labour, enhance precision, and speed up infrastructure assessments. In a related development, Bengaluru's traffic police have already adopted drone technology to monitor traffic flow across the city. Drones have been deployed at high-traffic areas such as Hebbal, Central Silk Board, Ibballur, Marathahalli, KR Puram, Guruguntapalya, Sarakki, and Banshankari bus stand to oversee congestion, particularly during peak hours.

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