States » EastPosted at: Oct 11 2026 7:25PM


Odisha: Drones to plug security gaps across ECoR network

Bhubaneswar, Oct 11 (UNI) East Coast Railway (ECoR) plans to double its drone fleet from 11 to 22 by March 2027 to strengthen surveillance, prevent sabotage and stone pelting, and detect theft and other security threats across its network.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is using drones under its DROAWK EYE – Observation, Detection, Prevention initiative to monitor vulnerable railway stretches, track suspicious movements and protect critical infrastructure. The existing fleet comprises four drones in Khurda Road, six in Sambalpur and one in Rayagada division, backed by 160 DGCA-certified drone pilots.
The surveillance network spans 284 stations, 2,708 route kilometres and 6,072 track kilometres, covering areas under 31 RPF posts.
Between January 1 and September 15, 2026, ECoR RPF conducted 3,033 drone sorties, including 1,329 in Sambalpur, 1,024 in Rayagada and 680 in Khurda Road division. Of these, 1,265 were classified as RED-coded sorties, prioritising critical security tasks such as preventing sabotage and stone pelting, detecting cable theft and identifying fire hazards.
Equipped with night-vision and thermal cameras, the drones enable surveillance of vulnerable locations that are difficult for security personnel to access, including forested and hilly terrain, tunnels, bridges and isolated track sections. The Koraput–Rayagada–Kirandul line is among the areas where the technology can help monitor remote stretches and detect suspicious activity.
The drones also help identify trespassing, encroachment and other threats around stations, coaching yards and vital railway installations. Live monitoring and audio warnings can deter unauthorised track crossing and stone pelting, while aerial footage supports investigations and emergency response.
ECoR has also deployed drone surveillance for crowd monitoring during Rath Yatra in Puri and other operational duties. The planned expansion is expected to improve coverage of vulnerable railway assets, strengthen preventive security and enable the RPF to deploy personnel more strategically. A drone team can monitor around 8-10 km of railway territory, extending surveillance across stretches that would otherwise require substantial manpower.UNI MK A AB
Tags: #Odisha: Drones to plug security gaps across ECoR network
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Bhubaneswar, Oct 11 (UNI) East Coast Railway (ECoR) plans to double its drone fleet from 11 to 22 by March 2027 to strengthen surveillance, prevent sabotage and stone pelting, and detect theft and other security threats across its network.

see more..