If not for major train accidents caused by collision, resulting in loss of innumerable lives besides extensive loss of property, it is certainly the repeated derailments reported from different parts of the country almost every month, if not for every week, that presently is posing a daunting challenge for authorities entrusted to ensure smooth functioning of the Indian rail network, the fourth largest railway network in world, after United States, Russia and China and the largest in Asia.
In view of increasing derailments the government recently announced to install 75 lakh AI-powered CCTV cameras in trains, as it suspects sabotage as a major reason for recent derailments. The AI-powered cameras would be installed in locomotives as well as coaches. The new facility aims to detect suspicious objects on tracks as recent reports claimed that deliberate attempts had been made to derail trains.
As per Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav the AI cameras would be installed to thwart deliberate attempts to derail trains.
Vaishnav further informed that the security project was expected to cost around Rs 15,000 crore. As per him, the cameras would be installed in front, rear and sides of engine as well as the guard coach besides on cattle guards and bogies.
Apart from AI powered camera installation, a common data centre is also on cards to store all feeds coming from these hitech cameras, for record sake.
The AI technology cameras are supposed to detect suspicious objects on tracks and alert drivers in nick of time to avoid any fatality. As per reports, the hi-tech facility would be installed initially in 40,000 coaches, 14,000 locomotives and 6,000 EMUs.
Besides the hi-tech cameras, Indian Railways was also planning to boost up its rail track security.
Despite safety advancements, Indian Railways has not stopped experiencing train collision, six incidents in 2022-23 and four in 2023-24.
Reports revealed a major share of train disasters were caused by derailments as a 2020 government safety report claiming derailments being responsible for nearly two-third of train fatalities in country.
Also as per a 2022 CAG report, 7 in 10 railway accidents between 2018 to 2021 occurred due to derailments.
Tragedy on tracks in 23 years
| Year | Train Accidents |
| 2000-01 | 473 |
| 2001-02 | 415 |
| 2002-03 | 351 |
| 2003-04 | 325 |
| 2004-05 | 234 |
| 2005-06 | 234 |
| 2006-07 | 195 |
| 2007-08 | 194 |
| 2008-09 | 177 |
| 2009-10 | 165 |
| 2010-11 | 141 |
| 2011-12 | 131 |
| 2012-13 | 122 |
| 2013-14 | 118 |
| 2014-15 | 135 |
| 2015-16 | 107 |
| 2016-17 | 104 |
| 2017-18 | 73 |
| 2018-19 | 59 |
| 2019-20 | 55 |
| 2020-21 | 22 Covid Year |
| 2021-22 | 35 Covid Year |
| 2022-23 | 48 |
