In News:

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has successfully completed trial works of the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) across four key railway sections in Assam and West Bengal to prevent elephant fatalities due to train collisions.

About the Intrusion Detection System (IDS)

The Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is a cutting-edge initiative of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) under the Ministry of Railways, aimed at protecting wildlife—particularly elephants—while ensuring smooth and efficient railway operations through forested and ecologically sensitive zones.

Objective

• To minimize elephant deaths caused by train collisions along railway lines intersecting elephant corridors.
• To balance operational efficiency with ecological conservation, aligning with India’s broader goals of sustainable infrastructure and biodiversity protection.

Technology and Working

• Technology Used: IDS employsadvanced optical fibre sensing technology installed parallel to railway tracks at a distance of around 10 metres.
• Functioning:
  • The system detects vibrations generated by elephant movement near railway tracks.
  • These vibrations are captured by sensor cables, which relay the data to a central control room.
  • The system then generates real-time alerts for train drivers and control rooms, enabling them to take immediate preventive actions, such as slowing down or halting trains.

This real-time detection mechanism ensures timely intervention and minimizes human-wildlife conflict along railway routes.

Implementation by NFR

The Intrusion Detection System has been successfully implemented in the following pilot sections:

1. Madarihat–Nagrakata section (Alipurduar Division)
2. Habaipur–Lamsakhang–Patharkhola–Lumding section (Lumding Division)
3. Kamakhya–Azara–Mirza section (Rangiya Division)
4. Titabar–Mariani–Nakachari section (Tinsukia Division)

• Coverage:The pilot installations collectively span 64.03 km of elephant corridors and 141 km of block sections, marking a significant step in NFR’s ongoing wildlife protection efforts.

Significance

• Wildlife Protection: Helps prevent accidental elephant deaths, promoting coexistence between rail infrastructure and biodiversity.
• Operational Efficiency: Enhances train safety by providing advance alerts, reducing service disruptions.
• Technological Advancement: Demonstrates the integration of AI and fibre-optic sensing in railway operations.
• Environmental Responsibility: Reflects the government’s commitment to sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly those related to life on land (SDG-15) and industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG-9).