This device will alert the drivers of any physical obstruction on railway tracks ahead and thus avert accidents.

If Hindu mythology is to be believed, when Lord Shiva opened his third eye, it would lead to destruction. But, the third eye or ‘Tri-Netra’ that the Indian Railways is getting, will help in averting train collisions, derailment and accidents on unmanned railway crossings.

India will be the first country to use Terrain Imaging for Diesel Drivers- Infrared Enhanced Optical and Radar Assisted or ‘Tri-Netra’ in railways for monitoring obstructions on tracks to prevent mishaps, claims Indian Railways.

“This device will alert the drivers of any physical obstruction on railway tracks ahead and thus avert accidents. This will prove to be more useful during nights and in foggy conditions when drivers have to constantly look outside the locomotive to assess the condition,” Ved Prakash, Director Information & Publicity, Ministry of Railways told FE Online.

How will Tri-Netra device work?

According to railway officials, the tri-netra device will use infra-red to tab signals up to a distance of 2-3 km and display the information on a screen fitted inside the locomotive. The display will not distract the driver with flashes or alarms during normal conditions, but warn them about danger in red colour and will give the driver ample time to stop the train. The equipment will have cameras, antennas, sensors for visualising the track ahead, which will be mounted on either ends of the locomotive.

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“These devices can easily sense the presence of any uprooted tree or a boulder lying on the railway tracks. If a vehicle has broken down on the rail tracks, the device can notice them well in advance,” Prakash told FE Online.

The Ministry of Railways has invited global tenders from companies to design, develop and implement Tri-Netra for locomotives. In the pilot project, these devices will be installed in 100 locomotives and gradually more devices could be procured depending on success of the system.

Specifications and design of critical components shall also be approved by the Research Designs & Standards Organisation, the railways research arm.

RDSO PRO VK Varma confirmed the same.