Indian Railways Launches AI-Blockchain Workforce System For 1.2 Million Employees

Indian Railways has begun the phased rollout of an AI and blockchain-powered workforce verification system named DRISHTI , aimed at strengthening attendance monitoring and reducing payroll fraud across its 1.2 million-strong workforce, one of the largest in the world. The deployment has started in Prayagraj, with plans to expand across all 18 railway zones and more than 7,000 stations after completing the initial phase within three months.

Developed by ChainCode Consulting LLP in collaboration with Billions Network and the Aptos Foundation, the system integrates facial recognition , offline-first functionality, and blockchain-based record storage to create tamper-proof attendance records. Officials said DRISHTI is designed to function even in low-connectivity and remote railway areas, where real-time internet access is often unreliable. It can reportedly verify multiple employees from a single group photograph, improving efficiency in large field operations.

Attendance data will be stored on a blockchain ledger , ensuring records remain immutable and traceable, while synchronisation will take place whenever connectivity is available. The platform also includes modules for leave management, supervisor approvals, task allocation, and real-time workforce dashboards.

The initiative is part of Indian Railways’ broader digital transformation strategy , which already includes Aadhaar-linked authentication, OTP-based verification in select services, and AI-driven operational monitoring tools. According to developers, similar systems in other government deployments have helped reduce ghost employee-related fraud by up to 90 per cent while improving payroll efficiency and reducing administrative delays.

Officials said DRISHTI aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and operational governance across one of India’s most complex public-sector organisations. However, experts have raised concerns over large-scale use of facial recognition, particularly regarding privacy safeguards, accuracy in real-world conditions, and long-term data governance.

The developers said the system incorporates secure identity verification and decentralised infrastructure to ensure both security and scalability. The rollout will continue in phases after Prayagraj, with full-scale implementation expected across the railway network in the coming months.