Indian Railways has marked a significant milestone in wildlife conservation as its AI-powered Intrusion Detection System (IDS), known as ‘Gajraj Suraksha’, has successfully prevented elephant fatalities on a critical stretch near Coimbatore for the past two and a half years. By integrating cutting-edge technology with railway operations, the national transporter has ensured safer passage for wildlife while maintaining the efficiency of train movements.
- Zero elephant deaths recorded in the Madukkarai Forest Range over the last 30 months.
- The system boasts a 99.5% accuracy rate in detecting elephant movement near tracks.
- Over 9,481 safe elephant crossings have been facilitated by this initiative.
- Nationwide expansion is planned across 700 kilometers of elephant-prone rail tracks.
- The project is set to cover key states including Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu.
How the Gajraj Suraksha System Works
The system employs a sophisticated blend of Artificial Intelligence, thermal imaging cameras, and Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) installed along optical fiber cables. Whenever an elephant approaches the tracks, the system instantly triggers real-time alerts to loco pilots, station masters, and central control rooms. This allows train drivers to proactively slow down or halt their trains. In the Coimbatore region alone, the system has generated over 7,100 alerts, successfully preventing potential accidents in more than 3,280 instances.
Future Expansion Plans
Following the success confirmed by Additional Chief Secretary Supriya Sahu in July 2026, the Ministry of Railways is moving forward with an ambitious expansion roadmap. Having already deployed the technology across 141 route kilometers in the Northeast Frontier Railway, the government has allocated an estimated cost of Rs 181 crore to scale this project nationwide. Furthermore, AI-powered drones are being integrated into the surveillance network to provide even tighter monitoring in high-risk zones. This expansion demonstrates a firm commitment from Indian Railways to balance infrastructure development with environmental protection, ensuring that the country’s rail network becomes safer for both passengers and the diverse wildlife that shares the landscape.