New optical fiber tech to save elephants from train hits
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is bringing in a new acoustic-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) by April 2026 to help keep elephants safe from train accidents.
Using optical fiber tech, the system can spot elephant movement near railway tracks and instantly alert train drivers and control rooms, aiming to prevent tragic collisions.
The system has been tested across 64km of elephant corridors
So far, the IDS has been tested across 64km of elephant corridors and 141km of key track sections in places like Alipurduar, Lumding, Rangiya, and Tinsukia.
After first being installed in 2022, it's now expanding to more divisions, including Rangiya and Tinsukia.
Next up: an extra 146km of elephant corridors will get this tech, showing NFR's commitment to using smart solutions for both wildlife protection and smooth train operations.