Lok Sabha Question No. 2686 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Rail Barricade for Elephant Safety
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Shreyas M Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2686 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2024

## RAIL BARRICADE FOR ELEPHANT SAFETY

2686.  SHRI SHREYAS M PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  request  for  approval  rail barricade along rail line for elephant safety in Sakaleshpura Taluk, Chikkamagaluru District, under Hassan Parliamentary Constituency;

(b) the reasons for the delay in approving the said barricade, despite the high number of elephant deaths due to train accidents in the region and details of the consideration given to the proposal along with timeline for approval to install barricade along rail line in the region;

(c)  the  number  of  elephant  deaths  reported  in  the  region  in  the  last  five years; and

(d)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  elephant  deaths  due  to train accidents?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2686 BY SHRI SHREYAS M PATEL TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA  ON  07.08.2024  REGARDING  RAIL  BARRICADE  FOR  ELEPHANT SAFETY

(a)  to  (d)  Indian  Railways  has  taken  up  various  measures  in  close coordination  with  Forest  department,  so  that  no  harm  is  caused  to  wild animals  during  train  operation.  These  measures  include  imposition  of suitable  speed  restrictions  in  identified  locations  of  animal  corridors, regular  meetings  with  concerned  forest  officials  to  update  and  sensitize the train crew and station master for alertness and awareness, clearance of  vegetation  and  edible  items  surrounding  the  track  within  railway  land etc.  Elephant  trackers  are  also  installed/  engaged  by  Forest  department which give timely alert to station master for further communication to loco pilots.

Other  measures  like  construction  of  underpasses  and  ramps  for  the movement of elephants at identified locations, provision of fencing along the  track  etc.  have  been  taken  up.  Installation  of  innovative  Honey  bee buzzer device at crossing locations in elephant corridor areas to prevent the  movement  of  wild  animals/  Elephants  near  Railway  tracks  has  been done. This device acts as a repellent to move away elephants from track and  96  such  Honey  Bee  buzzers  are  operational  in  various  locations  of Northeast frontier Railway. Thermal vision camera has also been developed for detecting presence of wild animals on straight track during night/poor visibility  which alerts loco  pilots  for  presence  of  wild  animals. LED lights with solar system are also provided in forest area near track to prevent entry of elephants. During last 5 years, death of only one elephant has been reported in South Western Railway.

Indian  Railways  has  taken  up  the  work  for  installation  of  Optical  Fiber Cable based Distributed Acoustic Sensors (DAS) also known as AI enabled Intrusion Detection System (IDS) for detecting presence of Elephants/ wild animals  on  track  or  nearby  track  at  identified  corridor  locations.  This system helps to get advance intimation regarding movement of Elephants/ wild animals for taking timely action and transmitting alerts to loco pilots, station  master  and  control  room.  The  development  and  effectiveness  of Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is a continuous and ongoing process and RDSO is working to further improve system functionality and reliability.

So far, the above system has been installed in about 54 Route Km length of Northeast Frontier Railway. Further, a work of installation of this system in various zonal railways (including South Western Railway) has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 208 Crore.

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