Dehradun: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), organized a two-day national workshop on “Policy Implementation for Minimizing Elephant Mortalities on Railway Tracks” from March 10–11, 2026. The workshop convened 40 participants, including senior officials from MoEFCC’s Project Elephant Division, the Ministry of Railways, forest departments of elephant-range states, and leading conservation scientists.
The initiative aims to strengthen coordination between wildlife conservation and railway infrastructure development, promote science-based mitigation strategies, and reduce elephant mortalities across India.
Elephant Mortality and Railway Challenges in India
India is home to over 60% of the global Asian Elephant population, with habitats spread across eastern, northeastern, southern, and central regions. However, increasing habitat fragmentation and railway expansion have led to a rise in elephant-train collisions, particularly in Assam, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
To address this, MoEFCC, in partnership with WII and the Ministry of Railways, has –
- Identified 110 sensitive railway stretches across elephant ranges
- Added 17 additional stretches in tiger-range states
Prioritisation of Railway Stretches and Mitigation Measures
Comprehensive joint field surveys conducted by Project Elephant, WII, state forest departments, and Indian Railways assessed 127 railway stretches covering 3,452.4 km. Based on wildlife movement patterns and mortality risk:
- 77 stretches (1,965.2 km across 14 states) were prioritized
- 705 mitigation structures recommended, including –
- 503 ramps and level crossings
- 72 bridge extensions/modifications
- 39 fencing or trenching structures
- 4 exit ramps
- 65 underpasses and 22 overpasses
Notable infrastructure integration includes –
- Gevra Road-Pendra Road line, Chhattisgarh – through Achanakmar-Amarkantak elephant corridor
- Darekasa-Salekasa track tripling and Nagbhid-Itwari gauge conversion, Maharashtra
- Wadsa-Gadchiroli line, Maharashtra – intersecting Kanha-Navegaon-Tadoba-Indravati tiger corridor
A 3.5 km Azara-Kamakhya stretch in Assam intersecting the Rani-Garbhanga-Deepor Beel elephant corridor will be elevated to allow safe elephant passage.
Technology-Based Interventions
The workshop highlighted innovative tech solutions to prevent wildlife-train collisions –
- Distributed Acoustic System (DAS)-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) – installed across four North East Frontier Railway sections, covering 64.03 km of elephant corridors.
- AI-based early-warning system at Madukkarai, Tamil Nadu – utilizes 12 thermal and motion-sensing tower cameras to detect elephant movement within 100 meters and alert railway and forest officials.
Workshop Highlights and Discussions
- Technical sessions covered elephant ecology, railway infrastructure planning, and biodiversity conservation.
- Participants examined state-level data, collision drivers, and mitigation gaps.
- Regional working groups reviewed landscapes: Shivalik-Gangetic Plains, Central India & Eastern Ghats, North-East India, Western Ghats.
- Best practices shared included AI detection, GIS monitoring, community-based alert systems, and sensor technologies.
- Discussions emphasized standardized risk assessment protocols, monitoring, rapid response, early-warning systems, dedicated crossings, and better data sharing.
Key Outcomes
- National consensus on collision hotspots and priority stretches
- Recommendations for a national roadmap under Project Elephant and the Ministry of Railways
- Strengthened collaboration between railway authorities, forest departments, and scientific institutions
- Promoted science-based, technology-driven measures for safe wildlife passage
