The minister attended the 67th National Railways Award 2022 held at the East Coast Railway (ECoR) auditorium.
Vaishnaw was answering to a query by media persons on the occasion on the growing railway track related elephant deaths in Odisha when informed that a plan is underway to increase the heights of railway tracks to meet the challenge.
The question came in the backdrop of the incident in which at least three wild elephants were killed after being hit by a goods train in Odisha’s Keonjhar recently.
The tracks will be elevated to accommodate more space in underpass to allow wild animal movement in areas prone to such mishaps, he assured.
In addition to the plan there are several other proposals under consideration by the department to lay sensor cables alongside the railway tracks to check wild elephant deaths. Talks are underway with the Forest and Environment Minister in this direction, he added.
During the event Vaishnaw felicitated 156 railway employees, including 5 from ECoR, under different railway zones for their achievements. That apart, two departments from the Indian Railways were also honoured with seals for their performance.
