- Railways step up protection for Asiatic lions with wildlife-friendly infrastructure
- AI-based Intrusion Detection System to monitor lion movement along 115 km rail stretch
- Slow-speed trains, corridor monitoring and multi-tier coordination strengthen safeguards
- Minister Ashwini Vaishnav details measures in Parliament in response to RS query
NE ENVIRONMENT BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, FEB 7
In a major boost to wildlife conservation in Gujarat’s iconic Gir forest, the Union Government has announced the construction of five additional underpasses for lion movement, reinforcing safeguards for the endangered Asiatic lions. The initiative complements the two existing underpasses already facilitating safe wildlife crossings in the forest landscape.
Simultaneously, an Artificial Intelligence–based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) has been sanctioned to monitor lion movement along a 115-km stretch of railway track in the Damnagar–Pipavav section of the Bhavnagar Division of Western Railway, which passes through the Gir National Park and Lion Wildlife Sanctuary.
AI on guard: real-time alerts to prevent accidents
The AI-enabled IDS is designed to detect the presence of lions near railway tracks and generate instant alerts for Loco Pilots, Station Masters and the Railway Control Room, enabling timely preventive action and reducing the risk of wildlife casualties.
The information was provided by the Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnav, while replying to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani.
Slow speed, high caution through lion corridors
According to the minister’s statement, the railway network passing through the Gir forest area falls under the Metre Gauge (MG) section. To ensure wildlife safety, trains are operated at slow speeds across identified lion movement corridors, a measure that has been consistently followed to minimise disturbance and risk.
Railway–forest coordination: multi-tier review mechanism
To ensure seamless coordination between the Railways and the Forest Department, a structured review mechanism has been put in place through Circle Level, Divisional Level and Range Level Committees. These committees meet quarterly, bi-monthly and monthly, respectively, with issues discussed and resolved proactively by the Railways, ensuring continuous monitoring and swift decision-making.
Elevated corridor query raised in Parliament
During the discussion, Parimal Nathwani also sought details on whether there are plans to construct an elevated railway corridor through the Gir forest to further protect Asiatic lions. He asked about the status of feasibility studies, funding provisions and expected timelines, along with other related safety measures concerning the rail corridor passing through the lions’ habitat.
