North Eastern Railway installs artificial intelligence technology to prevent elephant train collisions

The North Eastern Railway is taking major steps to protect wildlife by introducing advanced technology along critical forest routes. The Izzatnagar railway division has commenced the installation of an artificial intelligence-based intrusion detection system along tracks traversing the Mala forest region. This initiative, designed to alert loco pilots to the presence of elephants near railway lines, aims to reduce elephant fatalities caused by train accidents by 99 percent. The project utilizes distributed acoustic sensing technology where optical fiber cables buried along the tracks detect ground vibrations and pressure waves caused by elephant movement. AI algorithms analyze these signals to distinguish between elephants, humans, and trains. When an elephant enters a 200-meter perimeter of the track, the system generates real-time alerts for loco pilots, station masters, and control rooms. Some installations also incorporate thermal night vision cameras capable of scanning up to 900 meters.

Investment and National Rollout

The Izzatnagar division is investing approximately four crore rupees to secure 99.18 kilometers of its rail sections using this technology. This effort is part of a broader national push with the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change collaborating alongside the Wildlife Institute of India and the Research, Design and Standards Organisation. According to a PIB release, the Gajraj Suraksha system has already facilitated approximately 9,500 safe elephant crossings and prevented zero elephant casualties on monitored stretches. Nationwide, the Indian Railways has deployed IDS across 141 route kilometers at a cost of approximately 181 crore rupees, with plans to cover 700 kilometers of elephant corridors. Official approval has been granted for a total of 1,158 route kilometers across various zones, including NFR, ECOR, SR, NR, SER, NER, WR, and ECR. On September 8, 2026, RDSO Deputy Director General Kazi Miraj Ahmed confirmed the deployment on 141 kilometers and the issuance of tenders for an additional 1,000 kilometers. As of September 12, 2026, work continues to strengthen safety protocols for wildlife movement across these critical rail segments.