New Delhi : Indian Railways has rolled out an AI-enabled Intrusion Detection System (IDS) to prevent elephant collisions along railway tracks. The system, already operational across 141 route kilometers (RKms) on the Northeast Frontier Railway, is now being scaled up with tenders awarded for an additional 981 RKms across the network.
How the AI System Works
- The IDS uses Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology to detect elephant movement near railway tracks.
- Real-time alerts are sent to loco pilots, station masters, and control rooms, enabling timely preventive action.
- The system is designed to improve transparency, safety, and coordination in wildlife-sensitive zones.
Broader AI Adoption in Railways
Indian Railways is continuously integrating advanced technologies for predictive maintenance and safety:
- AI-driven predictive maintenance of signalling systems is being piloted at select stations, with trial outcomes expected to establish standard failure prediction logics and alert mechanisms.
- Online Monitoring of Rolling Stock System (OMRS) and Wheel Impact Load Detector (WILD) are being used to monitor rolling stock health.
- A MoU with DFCCIL (July 2025) introduced the Wayside Machine Vision Inspection System (MVIS), an AI/ML-based tool to detect hanging parts or missing components in moving trains.
- Another MoU with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation brought in the Automatic Wheel Profile Measurement System (AWPMS), which enables non-contact, real-time measurement of wheel geometry and wear.
Government Statement
Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, shared these developments in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the government’s commitment to leveraging AI for safety, efficiency, and modernization across Indian Railways.
