Northeast Frontier Railway Saves Over 160 Elephants in 2025

In a remarkable achievement, the Northeast Frontier Railway has successfully protected over 160 elephants in 2025. Through the implementation of advanced technology like the Intrusion Detection System, the railway has enhanced safety measures for wildlife crossing railway tracks. This initiative, along with other preventive strategies, has significantly reduced train-elephant interactions. The NFR's efforts are part of a broader national initiative to safeguard wildlife across Indian Railways, expanding coverage to over 1,122 route kilometers. Read on to learn more about these impactful conservation measures.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 30, 2025, 13:19 IST

Significant Elephant Protection Efforts

Guwahati, Dec 30: In 2025, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), based in Maligaon, reported that it has successfully safeguarded the lives of more than 160 elephants crossing railway tracks.

The NFR has been actively implementing technology-driven strategies to prevent incidents involving elephants and to maintain safe train operations throughout its network. According to an official statement, these ongoing initiatives have led to the protection of over 160 elephants in just this year.

Since 2017, the NFR has ensured the safe passage of more than 2,000 elephants while they cross railway tracks.

A key advancement in this effort is the introduction of the Intrusion Detection System (IDS), which employs advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Distributed Acoustic System (DAS) technology.

This system is designed to detect elephant movements near railway tracks and provides immediate alerts to train operators and control centers, allowing for prompt preventive measures and enhancing safety.

The IDS has been successfully implemented in critical areas of the NFR that traverse elephant corridors.

Currently, the system is operational in four segments of the NFR: the Kamakhya-Azara-Mirza section (24 km), the Madarihat-Nagrakata section (52 km), the Habaipur-Lamsakhang-Patharkhola-Lumding section (32 km), and the Titabar-Mariani-Nakachari section (23 km).

These installations collectively cover 62.7 km of elephant corridors and 131 km of block sections, significantly enhancing safety in sensitive wildlife areas. The NFR is also expanding IDS installations across various divisions, including 174 km in Rangiya, 110 km in Lumding, and 12 km in Tinsukia Division.

Once completed, the system will encompass all elephant corridors under the NFR, totaling 146.4 km, with an overall block section length of 413.42 km, establishing a comprehensive safety framework.

Additionally, the NFR has implemented other measures to minimize train-elephant interactions.

The 'Plan Bee' initiative, which is set up at critical level crossings, utilizes amplified honeybee sounds that can be heard up to 400 meters to discourage elephants from approaching the tracks.

In collaboration with the forest department, the NFR has improved safety through real-time information sharing, speed restrictions during nighttime in elephant corridors, temporary speed limits based on elephant sightings, training for train crews, installation of warning signs, and clearing vegetation to enhance visibility.

On a national scale, Indian Railways has bolstered wildlife protection by deploying the IDS to identify elephants and other wildlife near railway tracks.

Initially piloted on the NFR, this system is now being extended to other regions of the country, covering an additional 981 route kilometers (RKM), which will bring the total coverage to 1,122 RKM across Indian Railways.