Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/business/railways-indian-railways-kavach-4-0-deployed-across-1463-route-kms-across-south-central-railway-3667781/
Publisher: The Financial Express
The indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection system, KAVACH, has been successfully deployed over 1,465 Route Kms (Rkms) across the South Central Railway network. This initiative marks a significant step by Indian Railways in advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) as envisioned by the Prime Minister. Developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industries, South Central Railway has been deeply involved in the system’s implementation from its development phase.
Enhanced Safety Features of KAVACH
The KAVACH system, which automatically applies brakes if the loco pilot fails to act, has been installed on several sections of South Central Railway, including 144 locomotives. The system is designed to improve safety by providing real-time updates on movement authority, auto-whistling at level crossings, and collision avoidance through direct communication between locomotives. The system also features an emergency SOS function in case of any mishaps.
A major development in KAVACH’s journey came with the approval of KAVACH 4.0, which will soon be installed in 10,000 locomotives across Indian Railways. This upgrade promises to further enhance train operation safety and expedite the system’s installation throughout the national rail network in the coming years. The latest version of KAVACH has already been commissioned for 63 Rkms in the Sanatnagar-Vikarabad section, and the older version, KAVACH 3.2, has been deployed across several other sections, including Nagarsol-Mudkhed, Secunderabad-Kurnool, and Bidar-Parbhani.
The timeline of KAVACH’s development showcases the progress made in advancing safety technologies within Indian Railways. It began as a pilot project in 2014-15 and underwent rigorous trials and specifications finalization over the years. By July 2020, it was declared the national ATP system, and in July 2024, KAVACH 4.0 specifications were approved, incorporating feedback and lessons from earlier versions.
