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New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Palakkad railway officials to pre-commission jumbo intrusion system before July 30
COIMBATORE: As part of ensuring the safety of wild elephants, Palakkad railway officials said they have decided to pre-commission the activities of Elephant Intrusion Detection System (EIDS) in the Kottekkad-Madukkarai stretch before July 30. Kottekkad and Madukkarai share borders with Kerala and Tamil Nadu and are vulnerable to wild elephant movement. In this regard, the Palakkad Division is implementing EIDS, which is aimed at preventing elephant intrusions and enhancing the safety of wildlife and train operations. 'It integrates an optical fibre-based sensing network with artificial intelligence-driven analytical modules to detect the presence and movement of elephants in real time. Installation of the system has been completed on both A Line and B Line. At present, signal validation, fine-tuning, and systematic reduction of unconfirmed (spurious) alarms are in progress. We have targeted pre-commissioning activities for completion by July 30,' said a railway official. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Palakkad Division, Arun Kumar Chaturvedi, inspected the ongoing implementation of the EIDS in the Kottekkad-Madukkarai stretch on Saturday. As per a release from Palakkad Railway Division, verified alerts will be relayed without delay to the station masters of stations concerned, the Divisional Control Office, Palakkad Division, level crossings between stations, and locomotive pilots via dedicated display and alert interfaces, enabling timely operational responses to avert incidents.
The Hindu
19-07-2025
- The Hindu
Palakkad DRM inspects elephant intrusion detection system implementation
The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Palakkad Division, Arun Kumar Chaturvedi, inspected the ongoing implementation of the elephant intrusion detection system (EIDS) in the Kottekkad – Madukkarai section, a vulnerable stretch spanning Kerala and Tamil Nadu that has recorded wild elephant movements onto railway tracks. The EIDS is an initiative of Palakkad Division, Southern Railway, aimed at preventing elephant intrusions and enhancing the safety of both wildlife and train operations. It integrates an optical fibre–based sensing network with artificial intelligence–driven analytical modules to detect the presence and movement of elephants in real time. The system covers all identified elephant corridors along both the A and B lines of the section. Installation of the system has been completed on both the A Line and the B Line. At present, signal validation, fine‑tuning, and systematic reduction of unconfirmed (spurious) alarms are in progress. Pre-commissioning activities are targeted for completion by July 30. Using distributed acoustic sensing, sensors along the tracks capture vibration signatures (such as characteristic elephant footfall patterns) and relay data to the Distributed Acoustic Sensing unit located at Walayar. The AI engine and reference databases then localise any confirmed elephant presence to the exact kilometre. Verified alerts will be relayed without delay to the Station Masters of stations concerned, Divisional Control Office, Palakkad Division, any level crossings between the stations, and locomotive pilots via dedicated display and alert interfaces, enabling timely operational responses to avert incidents. The estimated project cost is ₹15.42 crore, fully funded by the Railways. During the visit, the DRM also inspected protection measures in the section, including solar fencing, rail fencing, clearance of vegetation on both sides of the track, and the functioning of railway‑constructed elephant underpasses.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Concrete boxes pushing complete, but Mahakalipadpu twin RuB not commissioned
Notwithstanding about three weeks at its disposal to complete the approach roads for the twin Railway Under Bridge (RuB) at Mahakalipadpu, the Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) has been unable to do the job, thereby indefinitely postponing commissioning of the crucial RuB. While Southern Railway's Palakkad division had completed pushing the last of the four concrete boxes for the twin RuB on April 17, and removed the last girder beneath the Mangaluru Central-Shoranur Down line on April 23, MSCL has completed only a portion of the approach road on Jeppinamogaru side. Work on the approach road at Morgan's Gate side was yet to commence, by which time rains began lashing the coast. MSCL had promised to facilitate commissioning of the twin RuB by May-end, thereby ending over four years' ordeal of thousands of road users in Mangaluru who were forced to take a detour via Pumpwell Circle all these days. With rains arriving at the coast much earlier than expected, the MSLC had to stop work on the approach road. Working in dry spells Blaming rains that started on May 15 for the incomplete approach roads, a senior MSCL official said the Smart City would get the road work completed during dry spell projected till June 14. The Railways has to lay a water drain pipeline to pump out water from the RuB till Netravati river, following which work on the approach road on Morgan's Gate side would be taken up, he said. The MSCL and the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) are to complete approach roads from the existing railway level crossing towards the twin RuBs, as the Railways would close the level crossing gate once the RuBs are commissioned. MSCL has also proposed to continue one of the two approach roads on the Moily Kere stretch till Netravati river to connect the Netravati promenade. In-charge Deputy Commissioner K. Anandh said he would instruct MSCL to complete the work on the approach roads at the earliest. Critical works over Divisional Railway Manager Arun Kumar Chaturvedi told The Hindu that the Railways has already completed all critical works, including pushing of the boxes, on its part. 'The drain line to Netravati river could be laid once the Mangaluru City Corporation shifts a water piepline in the path. It is a day's work,' he said.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Time of India
Project Sugamya to improve accessibility for disabled passengers at Palakkad Railway Station
Mangaluru: In a significant step towards further enhancing travel accessibility for persons with disabilities and reduced mobility, Palakkad Railway division on Monday launched Project Sugamya – Breaking Barriers at Palakkad Railway Station . This initiative, supported by the Swarga Foundation in collaboration with the International Gemological Institute (India), was formally inaugurated by Arun Kumar Chaturvedi, divisional railway manager, Palakkad. Indian Railways has consistently endeavoured to improve infrastructure and services for differently-abled passengers. Facilities such as lifts, designated ramps, accessible toilets, and wheelchair services are already available across many stations in the division. The launch of Project Sugamya is another initiative by introduces mobile ramps and customised wheelchairs to make rail travel even more barrier-free and dignified. As part of the project, 24 lightweight mobile ramps and 24 specially designed wheelchairs were formally handed over for deployment across 20 major stations in the Palakkad division. The stations include Palakkad Junction, Nilambur Road, Pollachi Junction, Ferok, Vadakara, Tanur, Kasaragod, Kanhangad, Payyanur, Thalassery, Shoranur Junction, Ottappalam, Kuttippuram, Pattambi, Mangaluru Central, Mangaluru Junction, Kozhikode, Parpanangadi, Kannur, and Tirur. These mobile ramps will facilitate seamless boarding and alighting from coaches, while the customised wheelchairs will support safe and independent movement within the station premises and inside trains. Speaking at the event, Arun Kumar Chaturvedi said, "The addition of mobile ramps and customised wheelchairs will provide greater convenience, safety, and independence to our differently-abled passengers."
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Palakkad Division introduces lightweight mobile ramps and specially designed wheelchairs at major stations
Palakkad Division of Southern Railway on Monday, April 28, launched Project Sugamya – Breaking Barriers at Palakkad Railway Station. As part of the project, 24 lightweight mobile ramps and 24 specially designed wheelchairs were formally handed over for deployment across 20 major stations in the Palakkad Division, including Mangaluru Central and Mangaluru Junction, said a release. The initiative, supported by the Swarga Foundation in collaboration with the International Gemological Institute, India, was inaugurated by Divisional Railway Manager Arun Kumar Chaturvedi. The Division said Indian Railways has consistently endeavoured to improve infrastructure and services for differently-abled passengers, with Palakkad Division being at the forefront of these efforts. Facilities such as lifts, designated ramps, accessible toilets, and wheelchair services were already available across many stations. The launch of Project Sugamya further strengthens these initiatives by introducing mobile ramps and customised wheelchairs to make rail travel even more barrier-free and dignified, the release said. The mobile ramps would facilitate seamless boarding and alighting from coaches, while the customised wheelchairs would support safe and independent movement within the station premises and inside trains, it said. Mr. Chaturvedi said 'The addition of mobile ramps and customised wheelchairs will provide greater convenience, safety, and independence to our differently-abled passengers. We appreciate the contributions of Swarga Foundation and IGI India towards making this vision a reality.'
