The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced an initiative to develop an advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-based project management system aimed at transforming the planning, monitoring and execution of metro infrastructure projects.
The proposed system is expected to go beyond traditional software tools that mainly flag issues, and will instead be capable of actively reasoning, planning and executing project workflows. To build this platform, DMRC has invited proposals from innovative startups through a competition-based process rather than a conventional tender. Shortlisted organisations will enter into memoranda of understanding with DMRC to jointly develop the system under a shared-cost model.
The new AI platform is intended to assist with project planning and scheduling by using historical data to create realistic timelines, anticipate delays and dynamically adjust schedules in response to factors such as labour shortages, equipment breakdowns and adverse weather conditions. It will also continuously monitor the utilisation of equipment, labour and materials to detect bottlenecks early.
On-site monitoring is planned to be strengthened through the use of AI-powered drones and cameras that compare real-time construction progress with approved plans, enabling engineers to identify deviations and take corrective action. The system is also expected to carry out automated compliance checks by reviewing project documents and flagging any missing inspections or regulatory gaps.
According to DMRC, the architecture of the platform will integrate multiple AI agents with project management and building information modelling tools to generate unified dashboards, daily progress reports, predictive insights and compliance updates through cohesive digital workflows. The scope of work includes AI agents for scheduling, reporting and communication, integration with planning and management software, web and mobile applications, inspection workflows, multi-level approvals, document management, cybersecurity compliance and the use of computer vision for progress analysis.
Eligible participants will present their proposals before an expert committee, after which up to three startups may be shortlisted to develop and host the platform on DMRC servers over a six-month period. Upon evaluation, one final solution may be adopted for implementation.
The selected participant will receive an award of ₹20 lakh upon successful development and acceptance of the system, along with joint intellectual property rights and the opportunity to commercialise the technology beyond DMRC projects on a revenue-sharing basis. DMRC will provide domain expertise, access to historical project data, testing environments and infrastructure support, while the partner will be responsible for development and joint ownership of the source code and documentation.
Interested startups can submit proposals through the government e-procurement portal by March 2, 2026. A discussion meeting to clarify technical and procedural queries has been scheduled for February 13, 2026.
