Elephants on Railway Track: To improve elephant safety and ensure smooth train operations, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has launched a major initiative across its network. The zone is implementing an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) designed to protect wildlife and maintain operational efficiency, especially in areas where railway lines pass through forested and elephant-inhabited zones.
Northeast Frontier Railway implements Intrusion Detection System
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has successfully completed trial works of the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) in four key sections. These include the Madarihat–Nagrakata section under the Alipurduar Division, Habaipur–Lamsakhang–Patharkhola–Lumding section under the Lumding Division, Kamakhya–Azara–Mirza section under the Rangiya Division, and the Titabar–Mariani–Nakachari section under the Tinsukia Division.
“Together, these pilot installations cover a total of 64.03 km of elephant corridors and 141 km of block sections, marking a significant milestone in the railway’s commitment to wildlife protection and safe train movement,” the NFR said in a statement.
System Impact
2-in-1
IDS simultaneously protects elephants and maintains operational efficiency
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Wildlife Protection
Prevents elephant deaths by detecting movement near tracks and enabling timely intervention
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Operational Efficiency
Ensures smooth train operations through real-time alerts and preventive action protocols
Indian Express InfoGenIE
How Intrusion Detection System works in protecting wildlife
“The Intrusion Detection System uses advanced optical fibre sensing technology to detect elephant movement near railway tracks, generating real-time alerts for train drivers and control rooms to take timely preventive action,” it said.
This means that when elephants come close to the railway tracks, the vibrations generated by their movement are detected by the sensor cables, which then transmit signals to the control room.
Commissioning of Intrusion Detection System over NFR
The commissioning of IDS on the four sections has paved the way for the next phase of implementation across the remaining 146.4 route kilometres of elephant corridors sections of the NFR. It set the target date for completion of this expanded project for April 2026, by which time the system is expected to be fully functional across all identified elephant corridors.
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