BHASHINI and CRIS Sign MoU for Development of Multilingual AI Solutions
In a significant move towards enhancing linguistic accessibility and digital innovation, the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) and the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership aims to develop and implement multilingual artificial intelligence solutions across essential railway platforms, enabling services in 22 Indian languages. The MoU was signed in New Delhi by Shri Amitabh Nag, CEO of BHASHINI, and Shri G.V.L. Satya Kumar, Managing Director of CRIS.
Strategic Collaboration for Multilingual Solutions
The newly established partnership focuses on integrating BHASHINIโs advanced language technology into CRIS-managed systems. This includes the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) and RailMadad, which are vital for passenger services. The collaboration will utilize various technologies such as Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR), Text-to-Text Translation, Text-to-Speech (TTS), and Optical Character Recognition (OCR). By doing so, the initiative aims to break down language barriers, allowing citizens to access crucial railway services in their preferred languages.
Transforming Passenger Engagement
During the signing ceremony, Shri Amitabh Nag emphasized the transformative potential of this collaboration. He stated that the integration of BHASHINIโs AI capabilities would revolutionize how millions of passengers interact with railway services daily. The goal is to ensure that language does not hinder access to essential public services, thereby enhancing the overall passenger experience.
Shri G.V.L. Satya Kumar echoed this sentiment, expressing pride in partnering with BHASHINI. He highlighted that the implementation of inclusive, AI-driven solutions would significantly improve accessibility, transparency, and efficiency in services offered to passengers. This partnership represents a commitment to modernizing railway services and making them more user-friendly.
Future Initiatives and Developments
The MoU outlines several initiatives aimed at further enhancing passenger support. These include the co-development of chatbots and voice assistants that provide multilingual assistance, as well as the creation of multilingual interfaces for railway enquiry setups. The partnership will also focus on scaling BHASHINI-powered services through both cloud and on-premise infrastructure. This will facilitate the deployment of these capabilities across various platforms, including websites, mobile applications, kiosks, and call centers.
In addition, the partnership plans to enable real-time, speech-based interactions in multiple Indian languages. A series of technical workshops and pilot projects are set to begin in the coming months, marking the start of this ambitious initiative.
Significance of the MoU
This Memorandum of Understanding is a pivotal step under the Digital India initiative, reinforcing India’s commitment to becoming a global leader in language AI for public digital infrastructure. By prioritizing linguistic inclusion, the collaboration between DIBD and CRIS aims to create a more accessible and efficient railway system for all citizens. The integration of advanced AI technologies into public services is expected to set a benchmark for future digital transformations across various sectors in India.
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