HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Nov 15: Indian Railways is accelerating the deployment of the advanced Kavach 4.0, an automatic train protection system, across 10,000 locomotives and over 14,375 route kilometres (RKM) of tracks nationwide. Bids for the installation of the Kavach system have already been invited. Out of the total 14,735 RKM, bids have been opened for installation on 1,105 RKM, with the remaining bids set to be opened by the end of November 2024. Additionally, Indian Railways has invited tenders for the installation of Kavach systems on 10,000 locomotives, with the financial bids currently under evaluation. Furthermore, all locomotives where lower versions of Kavach were installed will be upgraded to the Kavach 4.0 system.
In the NF Railway zone, approximately 1,966 RKM, spanning from Malda Town to Dibrugarh, has been identified for the implementation of Kavach. In 2024-25, Indian Railways has sanctioned the installation of the Kavach system on over 30,000 RKM. Of this, bids for 14,375 RKM have been invited. Indian Railways also plans to invite bids for an additional 17,000 RKM in 2025-26, with up to 30,000 RKM planned for 2026-28.
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The advanced Kavach 4.0 system was approved by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation in July 2024. After successful trials, the implementation of Kavach 4.0 was completed on a 108 km section between Kota and Sawai Madhopur in the West Central Railway. Trials are also underway on the 84 km Ahmedabad-Vadodara section in the Western Railway. To enhance safety and efficiency in train operations, Indian Railways is planning for a faster rollout of Kavach on almost all major routes of its network by 2030.
In recent years, Indian Railways has undertaken several measures to reduce train accidents. By rolling out Kavach 4.0, Indian Railways is committed to making rail travel even safer for passengers. This initiative is part of a larger plan to strengthen the railway network and boost safety measures across the country’s rail infrastructure.
