Over 110 sensitive railway stretches identified across the country to curb elephant mortalities, says Centre

Why in news

The Environment Ministry and Indian Railways identified 110 sensitive railway stretches to curb elephant mortalities through infrastructure and technology-based mitigation.

Background

A joint field survey identified 110 sensitive stretches in elephant ranges and 17 in tiger-range states. Out of these, 77 stretches were prioritized for infrastructure like ramps, bridges, and underpasses.

Facts for Prelims

• S&TDistributed Acoustic System (DAS)-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is being deployed along elephant corridors.
• S&TAn AI-based early-warning system in Tamil Nadu detects elephant movement and alerts officials.
• Fact77 railway stretches were prioritized for mitigation measures including ramps, level crossings, and underpasses.
• Fact110 sensitive stretches were identified across elephant ranges and 17 in tiger-range states.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the importance of integrating wildlife-friendly infrastructure and technology in railway expansion to balance developmental goals with biodiversity conservation.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

• Technological intervention: Use of DAS and AI for real-time monitoring of elephant corridors
• Infrastructure integration: Balancing railway expansion with the construction of underpasses and ramps
• Ecological prioritization: Site-specific survey methods to identify high-risk collision zones

Keywords: Biodiversity conservation · Human-wildlife conflict · Wildlife-friendly infrastructure · Intrusion Detection System · Mitigation measures

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