New Delhi | Indian Railways
In a major step towards mitigating human–wildlife conflict and enhancing rail safety, Indian Railways has introduced an AI-enabled Intrusion Detection System (IDS) designed to detect the presence of elephants near railway tracks and generate real-time alerts for Loco Pilots, Station Masters, and Control Rooms. The system uses Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) to enable timely preventive action and reduce incidents of elephant fatalities caused by train hits.
The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Railways in close coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, as part of a broader strategy to protect wildlife in elephant corridors across the country.
How the AI-Enabled IDS Works
The Intrusion Detection System leverages optical fibre-based Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology, integrated with AI algorithms trained on pre-installed signatures of elephant locomotion. The system continuously monitors ground vibrations along railway tracks and can accurately identify elephant movement in proximity to rail lines.
Once detected, automated alerts are instantly transmitted to train crews, station masters, and control rooms, enabling speed regulation, train stoppage, or other precautionary measures well in advance.
At present, the IDS is operational over 141 route kilometres (Rkms) at critical and vulnerable locations identified by Forest Departments under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
Expansion Across Indian Railways
To scale up this safety intervention, IDS works have been sanctioned across multiple railway zones covering the following route lengths:
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Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR): 403.42 Rkms
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East Coast Railway (ECOR): 368.70 Rkms
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Southern Railway (SR): 55.85 Rkms
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Northern Railway (NR): 52 Rkms
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South Eastern Railway (SER): 55 Rkms
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North Eastern Railway (NER): 99.18 Rkms
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Western Railway (WR): 115 Rkms
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East Central Railway (ECR): 20.3 Rkms
These corridors have been identified as high-risk elephant movement zones, based on inputs from Forest Departments and historical data.
Additional Measures to Prevent Elephant Hits
Apart from the AI-based IDS, Indian Railways has adopted a multi-pronged approach to reduce elephant-train collisions:
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Joint investigations by Zonal Railways and Forest Departments following any incident, with immediate corrective actions such as speed restrictions and crew advisories
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Regular coordination meetings with forest officials to sensitise train crews
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Construction of underpasses and ramps to facilitate safe elephant movement
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Installation of fencing along vulnerable track sections
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Placement of signage boards at all identified elephant corridors to warn loco pilots
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Clearance of vegetation and edible items within railway land near tracks
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Provision of solar-powered LED lighting in forest areas for improved visibility
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Deployment of elephant trackers by Forest Departments to alert railway staff in advance
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Installation of Honey Bee buzzer devices at level crossings, whose sound acts as a natural deterrent for elephants
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Pilot use of thermal vision cameras to detect wild animals during night or poor visibility conditions
Despite these efforts, Indian Railways has reported an average of around 16 elephant-hit incidents annually over the past five years, underlining the importance of technology-driven solutions like IDS.
Parliamentary Reply
This information was shared by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha yesterday, 4th February 2026.
The deployment of AI-enabled IDS marks a significant milestone in combining railway safety, wildlife conservation, and indigenous technology, reinforcing Indian Railways’ commitment to sustainable and responsible infrastructure development.
