The Northeast Frontier Railway has decided to introduce a new alert system along the Dooars track to avoid collision between trains and wild animals.

The Dooars track, which connects Alipurduar Junction with Siliguri Junction, is 152km-long and passes through a number of forests, including the Buxa Tiger Reserve.

Around 80 wild elephants were mowed down by trains on the route after the meter gauge was converted into broad gauge around two decades ago.

“We will shortly introduce the ‘Optical Fibre based Intrusion Detection System’ in the Alipurduar Junction-Siliguri Junction section to prevent collision between trains and wild animals. There are a number of stretches through which the animals cross the tracks. The system would be put in place in these stretches. It is an automated system through which an alert would be sent to us in case any animal steps on the track or comes near it,” said Dilip Kumar Singh, the divisional railway manager of Alipurduar railway division of the NFR.

According to him, the alert would reach the station master of the nearest railway station, the gateman posted at the closest level-crossing and the control room in Alipurduar.

“Once the alert is received, the loco pilots of all such trains which are moving through the area would be immediately informed. This would give due time to the loco pilots to reduce the speed of the trains or if required, stop the train to avoid a collision,” said a railway official.

Initially, the railways have planned to install the system along a 20km stretch between Chalsa and Carron stations in Jalpaiguri district.

The Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary, a common crossing point of elephants, is located between these two stations.

As of now, the information about wild animals crossing the track is shared by forest department employees. In case they receive information or see an animal crossing the lines, they contact the railway control room from where the message is passed to loco pilots.

“On a number of occasions earlier, loco pilots had slammed the brake to save animals. We believe the new system would be more effective and we can share real time data and status with loco pilots,” said a source at the NFR.