Kavach – a cutting-edge innovation that has been revolutionising the Indian Railways. This indigenously developed technology is not just a safety upgrade, but a game-changer. From humble beginnings to global recognition, Kavach has come a long way. Born from the dedication of Indian Railways’ Research Designs & Standards Organisation, it has blossomed into a world-class safety and capacity augmentation system. Forget about relying on traditional methods – Kavach ushers in a new era of proactive protection and optimised operations.
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Features and Impact of Kavach
So, what exactly is Kavach? Imagine a watchful guardian angel for every train. Kavach continuously monitors train movement, transmitting real-time information and automatically preventing collisions. It’s like having a sixth sense for locomotives, ensuring they stay on track and out of harm’s way. But Kavach doesn’t stop there. It also optimizes train schedules, paving the way for increased capacity and smoother journeys.
The impact of Kavach is nothing short of remarkable. It’s not just about preventing accidents – it’s about building trust, boosting efficiency, and propelling Indian Railways into the future. With Kavach, passengers can travel with peace of mind, knowing they’re protected by cutting-edge technology. And for the railways, it means a safer, more efficient network, capable of serving millions more people.
Some of the mind-blowing features of this system also include auto whistling at LC gates and collision avoidance by direct loco to loco communication.
Progress so far: How has the delivery been on budget promises?
Kavach has been deployed across 1,465 Route KM (RKM) and 139 locomotives, including Electric Multiple Unit rakes, on South Central Railway, covering the following sections:
1. Lingamapalli – Vikarabad – Wadi and Vikarabad-Bidar section (265 RKM)
2. Manmad-Mudkhed-Dhone-Guntkal section (959 RKM)
3. Bidar-Parbhani section (241 RKM)
– The implementation of Kavach work was commissioned on 1,456 Route KM (RKM) as of November 28, 2023.
– Currently, ongoing efforts are directed towards securing 3,000 RKM on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes.
– Tenders for approximately 3,000 RKM on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors have already been awarded.
– Preparatory activities, including surveying, Detailed Project Report (DPR) creation, and detailed estimate preparation, are in progress for an additional 6,000 RKM.
The government, as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat, had announced that 2,000 km of railway network would be brought under Kavach in 2022-23.
Upcoming Developments: Upgrading Kavach to 4G/5G (LTE-based system)
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had last year in November announced that the Ministry of Railways is actively working towards enhancing its indigenous anti-collision system, Kavach, by upgrading it to a 4G/5G (LTE-based) platform. This initiative, aimed at expediting the implementation of Kavach, is in response to heightened concerns regarding the increasing incidents of accidents and collisions.
As Kavach continues to be implemented across the vast Indian Railway network, its impact will only grow. So, stay tuned, because Kavach is more than just technology – it’s a symbol of India’s engineering prowess and a promise of a brighter future for Indian Railways.
According to Vaishnaw, tenders for the next-generation Kavach will be released between May and June this year, with a subsequent tender for upgrading the current Kavach technology to LTE scheduled for issuance in December 2023 or January 2024. This move to upgrade Kavach aligns with the ministry’s broader objective of modernizing outdated communication systems and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the anti-collision system, particularly over longer ranges.