In a bid to enhance rail safety, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has emphasized the swift rollout of the ‘Kavach’ automatic train protection system, alongside stringent quality checks for tracks and signals. Speaking to a select group of journalists, the minister assured that cutting-edge technology and rigorous training are being deployed throughout the railway network to improve safety standards.
Advanced Technology for Safety Enhancements
The Kavach system, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) solution, is designed to prevent accidents by automatically applying brakes if the driver fails to respond in time. This advanced system is particularly beneficial during adverse weather conditions, ensuring trains operate safely under challenging circumstances. The implementation process involves an extensive setup that includes telecom towers, optical fiber installation along the tracks, and RFID tags placed throughout the rail network.
Vaishnaw noted that the government aims to cover over 100,000 kilometers of rail network and more than 7,000 stations with Kavach in the coming years. Tenders have already been issued for fitting 10,000 locomotives and 9,600 kilometers of track length with the system.
Rigorous Safety Measures and Inspections
The minister’s comments come in the wake of recent derailments that have drawn criticism from opposition parties. He highlighted the comprehensive safety measures being adopted by the Indian Railways, including over 97,000 inspections conducted this fiscal year and 2,500 kilometers of track renewal. Since April, ultrasound tests have been performed on 186,000 kilometers of tracks and over 1.16 million welds, ensuring structural integrity.
Vaishnaw also mentioned the installation of 5,300 fog safety devices, the introduction of new ultrasound machines, and an increase in hardship allowances for track personnel by 25 percent.