March 12: In a significant step towards wildlife conservation and infrastructure safety, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organised a two-day national workshop to address the growing challenge of elephant deaths caused by train collisions.
The workshop, titled “Policy Implementation for Minimizing Elephant Mortalities on Railway Tracks,” was held on March 10–11 at the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun.
The event was organised by the ministry’s Project Elephant division in collaboration with wildlife scientists and railway authorities. Around 40 participants attended the workshop, including representatives from the Ministry of Railways, state forest departments from elephant-range states and leading conservation experts.
Growing Concern Over Elephant Mortalities
India is home to more than 60 percent of the global population of Asian Elephant, making conservation of the species a critical priority. However, expanding railway networks and habitat fragmentation have increased the risk of elephants being struck by trains in several states.
The problem is particularly significant in regions such as Assam, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where railway lines intersect traditional elephant corridors.
The workshop aimed to strengthen coordination between conservation authorities and railway planners to develop science-based strategies for reducing such accidents.
Identification of High-Risk Railway Stretches
As part of the national effort to tackle the issue, experts have identified 127 railway stretches covering 3,452 km across elephant habitats for detailed evaluation.
Out of these, 77 critical stretches spanning about 1,965 km across 14 states have been prioritised for mitigation measures. These stretches were selected after joint field surveys conducted by teams from Project Elephant, the Wildlife Institute of India, state forest departments and Indian Railways.
Over 700 Mitigation Structures Proposed
To reduce wildlife collisions, authorities have recommended a comprehensive mitigation plan consisting of 705 structures along the identified railway stretches. These include:
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503 ramps and level crossings
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72 bridge modifications or extensions
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39 fencing or trenching structures
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4 exit ramps
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65 new underpasses
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22 wildlife overpasses
These structures are designed to facilitate safe wildlife passage across railway lines while reducing the risk of train collisions.
Wildlife-Friendly Railway Infrastructure
Several railway projects across the country are already incorporating wildlife-friendly infrastructure. One notable example is the Gevra Road–Pendra Road railway line passing through the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Elephant Corridor in Chhattisgarh.
Similarly, projects such as the Darekasa–Salekasa track tripling and Nagbhid–Itwari gauge conversion in Maharashtra are integrating measures to protect wildlife movement.
A particularly important intervention is being planned on the Azara–Kamakhya railway line in Assam, where a 3.5-km stretch passing through the Rani-Garbhanga-Deepor Beel Elephant Corridor will be elevated to allow elephants to cross safely.
Technology-Based Solutions
Along with physical infrastructure, several technological solutions are being introduced to prevent collisions.
One such innovation is the Distributed Acoustic System-based Intrusion Detection System, which monitors vibrations along railway tracks and alerts authorities about elephant movement. Pilot installations have already been completed along sensitive sections of the Northeast Frontier Railway in Assam.
Another promising system is an AI-based early-warning mechanism deployed at Madukkarai, which uses thermal and motion-sensing cameras mounted on towers. The system detects elephants within 100 metres of the railway track and automatically alerts railway and forest officials so trains can slow down.
Need for Stronger Coordination
During the workshop, experts discussed elephant ecology, infrastructure planning and biodiversity conservation. Regional working groups reviewed data from different landscapes, including the Shivalik-Gangetic plains, Central India, the Northeast and the Western Ghats.
Participants stressed the importance of early-warning systems, dedicated wildlife crossings, improved signage and stronger coordination between forest departments and railway authorities.
The workshop concluded with a call for a national roadmap that integrates technology, scientific research and infrastructure planning to minimise elephant-train collisions while ensuring safe railway operations across the country.
