Indian Railways has decided to deploy Drone cameras (UAV/NETRA) for railway activities especially project monitoring and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure.
Indian Railways has given directions to Zonal Railways to procure such cameras as part of its strategy to use technology to enhance safety and efficiency in train operations.
Indian Railways will deploy Drone cameras to undertake monitoring activities of relief and rescue operation, project monitoring, progress of important works, conditions of track and inspection related activities.
Indian Railways will utilize Drone cameras to assess preparedness of Non-Interlocking (NI) works, crowd management during fairs and melas, to identify scrap and also for aerial survey of station yards. Providing real time inputs related to safety and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure will be the focus of technology investment at Indian Railways.
West Central Railways with headquarter at Jabalpur (M.P) has become the first Zonal Railway to procure Drone cameras in Indian Railways. West Central Railways has already done a trial-run of those cameras last week on its all three divisions in the locations.
Jabalpur Division – Narmada Bridge near Bhitoni
Bhopal Division – (i) Nishatpura Yard; (ii) Third Line work between HBJ – Misrod
Kota Division – (i) Chambal Bridge near Kota; (ii) Dakania Talav Yard near Kota
West Central Railways plans to use Drone for project monitoring in third line work of Bina-Katni, Doubling work in Katni-Singrouli, Important Bridge inspections and Mansoon preparedness in deep cutting portions of Ghat Sections of Bhopal and Jabalpur Divisions.
Earlier, demonstration of Drone camera was done for project monitoring of Railway Electrification work of Jabalpur Yard.