Indian Railways continues its stride towards enhancing safety measures with the deployment of the Kavach system on the South Central Railway, covering significant route kilometers and locomotives. According to the latest update provided by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kavach has been implemented on 1465 Route km and 139 locomotives, including Electric Multiple Unit rakes.
Furthermore, significant progress has been made with Kavach tenders awarded for key corridors like Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah, encompassing approximately 3000 Route km. The implementation progress is detailed as follows:
- Laying of Optical Fibre Cable: 3040 Km
- Installation of Telecom Towers: 269 Nos.
- Provision of equipment at Stations: 186 Nos.
- Provision of equipment in Loco: 170 Locos
- Installation of Trackside equipments: 827 Route Km.
The Kavach system, certified for Safety Integrity Level-4, undergoes rigorous certification by an Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) during commissioning, ensuring comprehensive safety standards.
Intrusion Detection Systems
In addition to Kavach, efforts are underway to prevent accidents involving elephants, with the commissioning of Intrusion Detection Systems on 48 Route Km identified as vulnerable sections over the Northeast Frontier Railway. Works have also been sanctioned based on vulnerability assessments of locations prone to elephant crossings across the Indian Railways network.
The Railways has maintained an average punctuality rate of 88.48% for Mail/Express train services from 2020-21 to 2022-23, showcasing its commitment to timely operations.
Electrification of railway network
Furthermore, significant progress has been made in electrifying the railway network on Broad Gauge, covering 93.83% of the route kilometers as of December 31, 2023. Additionally, there has been a notable reduction of 44.64% in High-Speed Diesel consumption for Diesel locomotives in the year 2021-22 compared to 2018-19.
The comprehensive safety measures and infrastructure enhancements underscore Indian Railways’ unwavering commitment to ensuring passenger safety and operational efficiency across its extensive network.