Forest department and railways approve new operating procedure
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Forest department and railways approve new operating procedure

Trains running through lion habitat are now required to switch off engine headlights or dim them whenever a lion or other wild animal is spotted on or near railway tracks. It has been recognized that high beams can potentially blind animals, causing distress and panic, ultimately leading them to stay immobile.

During a joint meeting held on April 5, a consensus was reached between the railways and the forest department regarding a standard operating procedure (SOP) for train operations in lion habitat.

The SOP, which was finalized during the meeting, was agreed upon by senior officials of the railways and the deputy conservators of forests (DCFs) of Gir East-Dhari, Shetrunji-Palitana, and Social Forestry - Amreli. This document outlines the measures to be taken in order to protect lions and other wild animals.

As per the SOP, caution orders will be enforced by forest officials to maintain a balance between wildlife safety and railway operational efficiency. In identified hotspots, permanent caution orders with a speed limit of 40 kmph will be implemented from sunset to sunrise. Additionally, temporary caution orders will be issued whenever there is a proximity of lions, requiring train speeds to be reduced to 30 kmph. These orders will be reviewed every 3 hours. According to senior government officials, the forest department advocated for longer durations for temporary caution orders, as lions tend to linger in suitable areas. However, the railway authorities remained steadfast on the re-evaluation every three hours.

The SOP specifies that the forest department will provide real-time updates on lion movements to railway authorities, including the nearest station, enabling timely regulation of speeds. To facilitate this communication, a dedicated WhatsApp group has been established by the railways and the state forest department. This platform serves as a hub for real-time information exchange, allowing for swift updates on lion sightings. It enables messages to be conveyed more efficiently than contacting railway officials individually.

Trains running through lion habitat are now required to switch off engine headlights or dim them whenever a lion or other wild animal is spotted on or near railway tracks. It has been recognized that high beams can potentially blind animals, causing distress and panic, ultimately leading them to stay immobile. During a joint meeting held on April 5, a consensus was reached between the railways and the forest department regarding a standard operating procedure (SOP) for train operations in lion habitat. The SOP, which was finalized during the meeting, was agreed upon by senior officials of the railways and the deputy conservators of forests (DCFs) of Gir East-Dhari, Shetrunji-Palitana, and Social Forestry - Amreli. This document outlines the measures to be taken in order to protect lions and other wild animals. As per the SOP, caution orders will be enforced by forest officials to maintain a balance between wildlife safety and railway operational efficiency. In identified hotspots, permanent caution orders with a speed limit of 40 kmph will be implemented from sunset to sunrise. Additionally, temporary caution orders will be issued whenever there is a proximity of lions, requiring train speeds to be reduced to 30 kmph. These orders will be reviewed every 3 hours. According to senior government officials, the forest department advocated for longer durations for temporary caution orders, as lions tend to linger in suitable areas. However, the railway authorities remained steadfast on the re-evaluation every three hours. The SOP specifies that the forest department will provide real-time updates on lion movements to railway authorities, including the nearest station, enabling timely regulation of speeds. To facilitate this communication, a dedicated WhatsApp group has been established by the railways and the state forest department. This platform serves as a hub for real-time information exchange, allowing for swift updates on lion sightings. It enables messages to be conveyed more efficiently than contacting railway officials individually.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Products

Koemmerling opens Navi Mumbai experience centre

Koemmerling, a brand of the profine Group, has expanded its presence in the Mumbai metropolitan region with the opening of a new experience centre in Navi Mumbai and launched its Allure S46 minimal sliding door system for the Indian market.Located in CBD Belapur, the facility was inaugurated by Peter Mrosik, Owner and CEO, profine Group, along with Farid Khan, Chairman and Managing Director, profine India, and Kamal Bajaj, CEO, profine India.The company said the new centre will showcase its portfolio of uPVC and aluminium window and door systems to architects, developers and homeowners.The ina..

Next Story
Products

India's waterproofing market nears Rs 150 bn milestone

India's waterproofing industry is approaching a market size of Rs 150 billion and is expected to surpass the $2 billion milestone, according to speakers at the 2nd India International Waterproofers Conference & Expo 2026 organised by the Waterproofers Association of India (WAI) in New Delhi.The two-day event brought together more than 20 speakers, 55 international delegates and 53 exhibition booths, with discussions focusing on climate-resilient construction, advanced waterproofing technologies and international collaboration.Inaugurating the event, Durga Shanker Mishra, former Secretary, ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Dilip Buildcon Q1 FY27 Revenue at Rs 23.78 billion

Dilip Buildcon Limited reported consolidated revenue from operations of Rs 2,378 crore in Q1 FY27, along with EBITDA of Rs 429 crore and profit after tax of Rs 128 crore.Consolidated EBITDA margin stood at 18.1%, improving from 17.1% in Q4 FY26. On a standalone basis, revenue from operations was Rs 1,930 crore, EBITDA stood at Rs 199 crore and PAT was Rs 39 crore, with an EBITDA margin of 10.3%.The company’s order book stood at Rs 27,691 crore as of 30 June 2026, compared with Rs 28,830 crore as of 31 March 2026. Roads and highways accounted for 17.1% of the order book, irrigation and water ..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement