Indian Railways Introduces AI to Protect Wildlife

Indian Railways has implemented an advanced AI-based system to safeguard elephants and other wildlife from train collisions. The AI-powered Intrusion Detection System (IDS) utilizes Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) to detect animals on railway tracks and promptly notifies train pilots of their presence, enabling preventive measures.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently addressed the Upper House of Parliament, emphasizing the railway’s commitment to protecting elephants and other wild animals. He detailed the IDS technology, explaining that it includes optical fiber components, hardware, and pre-programmed signatures of elephant-prone areas. The system promptly alerts train pilots, station masters, and control rooms when animals are detected near the tracks.

Currently, the IDS is operational along 141 km of railway tracks in critical zones identified by the Northeast Frontier Railway in collaboration with the forest department. The technology has proven highly effective in preventing train-animal collisions.

The Indian Railways has sanctioned IDS implementation across 1,158 km of railway tracks at an estimated cost of $25 million. The initiative will cover forest regions under the jurisdiction of Northern Railway, Northeast Frontier Railway, East Coast Railway, Southern Railway, South Eastern Railway, North Eastern Railway, Western Railway, and East Central Railway.

Installation is already underway in key corridors, including 349.4 km in East Coast Railway, 55.58 km in Southern Railway, and 36 km in North Eastern Railway. The IDS expansion is expected to significantly enhance wildlife protection while ensuring safe railway operations.