Central Railway to set up CCTV cameras to monitor boulders at ghats

Chances of boulders falling on a train or on tracks and disrupting services are high in the ghat section; areas near Lonavala, Monkey Hil, Kasara Ghats are usually most affected.

In a first, the Central Railway (CR) has undertaken the digital scrutinising of the railway tunnels that fall along its ghat section. CCTV cameras are being placed to monitor the movements of boulders along the ghat section. These cameras will be monitored in real time from the nearest location.

During heavy rainfall, loose boulders fall on the tracks and obstruct the movement of local as well as outstation trains. (HT PHOTO)

Chances of boulders falling on a train or on the railway tracks and disrupting train services are quite high in the ghat section. Thus, live monitoring of the movements will help in deciding the operations of the trains. Earlier, railways would deploy staff who would be present near railway tunnels and would send updates on the boulders to railway officials during heavy rainfall.

During heavy rainfall, loose boulders fall on the tracks and obstruct the movement of local as well as outstation trains. Regions near Lonavala, Monkey Hill and the Kasara Ghats are the worst hit.

“CCTV cameras will help us in knowing the exact position of the boulders and their movements. This would help us keep a track on them. We have also created drain retention walls which would help drain water from near the tracks during heavy rainfall,” said SK Jain, divisional railway manager, CR.

A drone survey of the entire ghat section was done before monsoon, wherein 500 boulders, which were found to be risky, were removed.

In August last year, three passengers were injured after a boulder fell on a coach of the city bound Hubbali-LTT train near Lonavla.