Alert to loco pilots as railways ramps up AI for safety of elephants on tracks

THE Indian Railways has introduced an innovative artificial intelligence-driven measure to safeguard elephants and other wildlife from being struck by moving trains.

- RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @New Delhi

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently informed the Rajya Sabha about the system. "An AI-enabled intrusion detection system (IDS) identifies the presence of elephants and other wildlife on railway tracks using distributed acoustic sensors (DAS) and promptly alerts loco pilots about their close proximity," Vaishnaw said, emphasising the railways' commitment to protecting wildlife.

"The system components include optical fibre, hardware, and pre-installed signatures of elephant locations. The system alerts loco pilots, station masters, and the control room about the movement of elephants near tracks, enabling timely preventive action," the minister informed the House.