Low visibility caused by dense fog during winters cause several accidents, resulting in numerous deaths and heavy damages, but this mode of transport is expected to become safer soon as Indian Railways is mulling a plan to fit sensors on tracks to help train avoid accidents.

The sensors on tracks will warn trains of any impediment on tracks in dense fog, which causes low visibility.

Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said that sensors would be installed as part of the ministry's efforts to ensure safety of passengers.

Revealing the under-consideration project, Mr. Bansal said, "The technology involves installing a chip on tracks which would sense an approaching train and warn it of any obstruction."

The Minister claimed that the sensors would be able to warn an approaching train of any obstruction, such as an immobile train on the same track, from a distance of nearly one kilometer.

Mr. Bansal also said that Railways would also fence tracks, starting with the Delhi-Agra track. It would be done in the PPP model where private players would be allowed to put up their bill boards.