In a significant move to protect elephants in their natural habitats, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has embraced Artificial Intelligence (AI) to cover the northeastern states, seven districts in West Bengal, and five districts in north Bihar. NFR has partnered with RailTel Corporation of India Ltd to implement an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). This system aims to prevent tragic train-elephant collisions and enhance disaster preparedness.
Chief Public Relations Officer of NFR, Sabyasachi De, emphasized that the commitment is to safeguard wildlife, especially elephants, near railway tracks. The IDS utilizes AI and existing optical fibers as sensors. It has already proven successful in a pilot project spanning the Chalsa-Hasimara section in West Bengal and the Lanka-Hawaipur section in Assam. It is said that the new technology can detect wild animal movements over a 60-kilometer stretch and provide real-time alerts to control offices, station masters, gatekeepers as well as the locomotive pilots.
The IDS system simultaneously helps in detecting rail fractures, trespassing on railway tracks and potential disasters caused by unauthorized digging or landslides as well. Its early detection capabilities allow for alarms to be generated 30-40 minutes in advance.
Furthermore, the IDS technology is poised to boost rail transport mobility in the region, permitting faster speeds through elephant corridors. The additional advantages include monitoring track-side activities, identifying fiber cuts and tracking train movements for level crossing gates.
The innovative system is expected to expedite the approval process for new rail lines and projects passing through wildlife sanctuaries and national parks by providing timely information to the Ministry of Forest and Environment.
With is home to 27,312 elephants, including 5,719 in Assam. 85 elephants lost their lives in Assam and West Bengal due to train collisions in the last decade.
