GUWAHATI: Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) was presented with the best innovation award in Indian Railways for the 2018-19 fiscal for their innovative system developed to clear out railway tracks. ‘Plan bee’ is an amplifying system which generates a buzzing sound similar to honey bees to drive wild elephants away from the railway tracks. The first prize entailed a cash award of Rs 3 lakh.
There are 29 earmarked elephant corridors with the operating zone of NFR spread across the north-eastern states and parts of Bihar and West Bengal. Trains are required to slow down at these corridors and adhere to speed specified on signs.
“But elephants have ventured into the path of trains even in non-corridor areas, often leading to accidents resulting in elephant deaths. NFR’s Rangiya Division and Forest Department field officials worked on certain deterrents and provide a solution to the problem,” said Pranav Jyoti Sharma, NFR spokesperson.
The device generates a honey bee like sound which is audible in a range of 700-800 meters and was installed at a level crossing west of Guwahati on a track adjoining the Rani forest reserve, which is an elephant habitat.