DOST ensures rail track workers go home safely
Now, technology helps protect trackside workers’ safety in Indian Railways.
DOST (Delivering Occupational Safety on Track) from Indian Institute of Science deep tech startup L2MRail is a real-time train approaching alert generation system for enhanced safety of trackside workers. DOST enables uniform, high-grade safety for every trackside worker, ensuring they go home safe, every day.
The Cloud-based DOST provides live updates on block section status, power failures, communication failures, and other critical notifications – ensuring safer working conditions for railway staff, Piyush Vijay, Principal Chief Technology Officer, Lab To Market Innovations Pvt Ltd, told businessline.
DOST system was first commissioned on February 18, 2025, marking the beginning of live operational deployment. At present, over 700 workers in four sites – in Southern Railways; South Western Railways; Western Railway and East Coast Railway – are using DOST.
At present, four stations with 16 block sections – one block section is about 10 km of track – with a total of 160 km is covered. “In 2-3 years, we have plans to deploy DOST covering 17 Railway Zones and nearly 7,000 stations,” he said. Indian Railways has a total of 70,000 km, he added.
In the last five years, 361 railway workers have lost their lives in train accidents while carrying out essential maintenance work on tracks. That’s one life lost every five days—a shocking statistic that highlights the urgent need for enhanced safety measures, automation, and real-time monitoring in railway operations.
Vijay said the major benefit of DOST is the dramatic reduction in risk during maintenance activities. Through the dashboard, the respective Railway Division gains real-time visibility into block section status and worker activity. This also provides historical logs of block occupancy and user alerts, supporting planning, audits, and safety reviews.
DOST minimises reliance on manual communication methods like walkie-talkies or uncertain verbal relayed communication. The automated system ensures accurate and consistent notifications, he said. Maintenance gangs operating across long sections of track can all receive synchronised information on their smartphones, he added.
In the Cloud-Based Web Application, a central administrative platform enabling the department to monitor block sections across locations, manage user accounts, generate reports, and maintain complete visibility of field operations. Secure HTTPS and SSL protocols ensure reliability and data protection, he said.
A linesman in Wadakancheri in Kerala said DOST is really useful as it relieves the fear of trains coming. Now, the app gives alerts well in advance for the workers to safeguard.
Published on December 21, 2025
