Forest department and railways approve new operating procedure

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.