East Coast Railway (ECoR) has taken the lead in Indian Railways’ technological transformation by deploying 11 high-tech drones across its operations to bolster passenger safety, security, and asset protection.
Supported by 160 DGCA-certified drone pilots, the surveillance network covers 284 railway stations, 2,708 route kilometers, and 6,072 track kilometers across 31 Railway Protection Force (RPF) posts.
Operating under the “DROAWK EYE – Observation, Detection, Prevention” initiative, the aerial fleet assists the RPF in monitoring vulnerable stretches, detecting suspicious activities, and preventing crimes. Between January 1 and September 15, 2026, ECoR RPF conducted 3,033 drone sorties across the Khurda Road, Rayagada, and Sambalpur divisions. Crucially, 1,265 RED-coded sorties targeted high-priority security concerns, including sabotage prevention, stone-pelting deterrence, cable theft detection, and fire safety checks.
Equipped with thermal cameras and night-vision capabilities, the drones effectively monitor complex terrains like forests, tunnels, bridges, and the Koraput–Rayagada–Kirandul line. They also provided critical crowd management support during Puri’s Rath Yatra 2026 and bolstered women’s safety under the Meri Saheli initiative.
With plans to expand its fleet to 22 drones by March 2027, ECoR continues to set new benchmarks in modern rail surveillance.
