Gajraj Suraksha

December 2, 2023

In a bid to address the rising concern of elephant deaths in train collisions, Indian Railways has rolled out a groundbreaking, indigenously developed new technology called Gajraj Suraksha, that is aimed at preventing such tragic incidents.
Gajraj Suraksha, which is a kind of Intrusion Detection System or IDS, is based on an AI algorithm and claims to detect 99.5 per cent of potential collisions, providing a much-needed solution to this longstanding issue.
It primarily relies on OFCs or Optical Fibre cables for quick transmission of signals.
Working
- Gajraj Suraksha senses pressure waves generated by the movement of elephants along the tracks.
- As elephants move, the optical fibres detect vibrations caused by their footsteps.
- These vibrations trigger signals within the optical fibre network, enabling the system to identify the presence of elephants up to 200 meters ahead of their arrival on the track.
- The OFC-based Intrusion Detection System promptly sends alarms to station masters whenever movement is detected along the tracks.
- This allows them to inform locomotive drivers in the affected areas.
- This quick communication ensures that trains can be slowed down or stopped, preventing potential collisions with elephants.
On a vast network spanning 700 kilometres of railway tracks, the implementation cost is estimated at Rs 181 crores, making it a viable and scalable solution for Indian Railways.
The Indian Railways plans to deploy this solution across all elephant corridors in the country in the next 8 months.
- The Indian Railways has chosen the Northeast Frontier Railways to pilot this programme and implement this new, cutting-edge technology in some of the worst affected areas.
- The system is being installed over a large area and is already fully operational along a specific stretch covering approximately 70 kilometres.