Lok Sabha Question No. 2556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-07
Subject: Unnatural Elephant Deaths by Train Collisions
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Chavda Vinod Lakhamshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2556 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2024

UNNATURAL ELEPHANT DEATHS BY TRAIN COLLISIONS

† 2556.  SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that train collision are the second largest cause of unnatural elephant deaths;

(b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government has taken steps on speed restrictions in elephant corridors and use of technologies like AI surveillance and sensors;

(c)  whether  'Gajaraj  Suraksha'  (Intrusion  Detection  System)  introduced  by the government has been successful in avoiding train-elephant collisions;

- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2556 BY SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  07.08.2024  REGARDING  UNNATURAL ELEPHANT DEATHS BY TRAIN COLLISIONS.

(a)  to  (e)  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.

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 has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 208 Crore.

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