Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday demonstrated the functionality of the indigenously developed ‘Kavach’ system amid dense fog conditions in northern India. The system, installed in trains, enhances safety and efficiency, especially during adverse weather. Vaishnaw shared on X, “Dense fog outside. Kavach shows the signal right inside the cab. The pilot doesn’t have to look outside for a signal.”
Kavach, an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, ensures safe train operations by automatically applying brakes if the Loco Pilot fails to do so. It also aids in maintaining specified speed limits and allows safe navigation during challenging weather conditions. The system has undergone rigorous safety certifications and continuous improvements since the first field trials on passenger trains began in February 2016.
By 2018-19, three firms were approved to supply Kavach version 3.2 after an Independent Safety Assessment (ISA). Plans are now underway to equip 10,000 locomotives with the system. So far, 69 loco sheds have been prepared for the implementation, and over 9,000 technicians, operators, and engineers have been trained in Kavach technology.
The Ministry of Railways estimates the cost of trackside equipment, including station integration, at approximately Rs 50 lakh per kilometer, while installing the system on a locomotive costs around Rs 80 lakh. To date, Rs 1,547 crore has been spent on Kavach, with an allocation of Rs 1,112.57 crore planned for 2024-25 to further expand the project and onboard additional Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
(With inputs from ANI)