Western Railway in Vadodara division uses floater cameras for culvert, drainage cleaning

Vadodara: In order to deal with the monsoon season, the Vadodara division of Western Railway has conducted cleaning of 129 culverts and cleared approximately 168 km of drains. For surveying and monitoring covered drains and culverts, the Vadodara Division has utilized floater cameras for the first time.

An official from the Vadodara division stated, “Necessary preparations have been completed ahead of schedule to ensure uninterrupted train operations during the monsoon. This year, the Vadodara division has introduced remote-operated float cameras to capture images of bridges and culverts that are difficult to access manually, marking the first such deployment in Indian Railways.”

Additionally, the Vadodara Division has studied water flow patterns in yards, constructed new drains, and installed manholes for efficient water disposal. Suction and de-sludging machines were used for thorough cleaning of culverts, with 137 high-capacity pumps installed in waterlogging-prone areas. Furthermore, 46 pumps have been placed in railway workshops and colonies.

15 Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs) have been installed to provide real-time and official rainfall data. Flood gauges have been set up at 12 locations, and precautionary measures have been implemented, including the removal of potentially hazardous trees.

Floater cameras continue to aid in bridge cleaning operations. Equipped with an integrated lighting system, the remote-operated floater camera enables clear imaging of underground culverts even in darkness, facilitating effective bridge cleaning operations. The Railways have procured 30 such cameras, each costing three lakh rupees, significantly contributing to bridge maintenance efforts. DeshGujarat