Elephant safety: Indian Railways to use AI and thermal cameras to prevent track accidents
Indian Railways is implementing new technology to stop elephants from being hit by trains. The Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are working together on this project. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared these details in the Lok Sabha to explain how animals will be protected on the tracks.
How will the AI system detect elephants?
The railway has deployed an AI-enabled Intrusion Detection System (IDS). This system uses Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) and the existing optical fiber network to sense the movement of elephants. Once the system identifies the specific movement patterns of an elephant, it sends real-time alerts to loco pilots, station masters, and control rooms so they can slow down or stop the train.
Where is this technology being installed?
The system is currently active over 141 route kilometers in the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). The government has approved the expansion of this system to over 1,100 route kilometers across major elephant corridors. NFR aims to complete the implementation across its network by April 2026. Additionally, the Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway is installing a similar system at a cost of 15 crore rupees.
What is the role of thermal cameras?
In collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, a pilot project has started on the Guwahati-Lumding route in Assam. This project uses portable devices with thermal cameras that can detect elephants 2 to 8 kilometers ahead of the train. This gives loco pilots enough time to react and save the animals.
| Project/System | Key Feature | Target/Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| AI-IDS | Acoustic Sensors & Optical Fiber | 1,122+ Route KM |
| Thermal Cameras | Long-range detection (2-8 km) | Guwahati-Lumding Route |
| NFR Goal | Network-wide implementation | By April 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the AI-IDS system used by Indian Railways?
It is an Intrusion Detection System that uses optical fiber and acoustic sensors to identify elephant movements and send real-time alerts to railway staff.
How far can thermal cameras detect elephants on the track?
The portable thermal camera devices used in the Guwahati-Lumding pilot project can detect elephants from a distance of 2 to 8 kilometers.