Ahmedabad: The installation of anti-monkey devices on railway pillars to curb monkey-related disruptions on the Gandhigram (Ahmedabad) – Botad route has shown significant results, with incidents of damage to overhead electrification (OHE) lines and power supply disruptions dropping by nearly 50%.

Railway officials said monkeys frequently climb onto overhead wires, leading to electrocution and breakage of cables, which in turn disrupt train operations. The Gandhigram–Botad section was particularly affected, recording around 35–40 power disruption incidents every month.

Each anti-monkey device costs approximately ₹1,000–₹2,000, and over 1,050 such devices are planned to be installed along the route. Authorities believe the initiative will prove cost-effective in the long run by minimising operational disruptions.

It is learnt that the monkey menace is also prominent in areas such as Palanpur and Saka. Similar issues have been reported on stretches towards Dholka, along the Palanpur route, and in parts of Sabarkantha, where forests and human settlements are in close proximity, leading to a higher monkey population. DeshGujarat