Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Railways addresses concerns regarding the pace of Kavach installation, an indigenously designed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. Kavach version 4.0, featuring enhanced accuracy and interface capabilities, has been approved and commissioned on the Kota-Mathura section as of July 30, 2025. Trackside Kavach implementation costs approximately Rs. 50 Lakhs/km, and locomotive installation is about Rs. 80 Lakhs/loco, with Rs. 1,673.19 Crores allocated for 2025-26.
Key Points / Main Content:
Kavach System Overview:
* Kavach is an indigenously developed ATP system designed to aid Loco Pilots and ensure safe train operation, especially during inclement weather.
* Kavach was adopted as the National ATP system in July 2020.
Kavach Implementation:
* Key activities include installing Station Kavach, RFID tags, telecom towers, Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) laying, and Loco Kavach provision.
* Kavach version 4.0 approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024, incorporates improvements like increased location accuracy and direct interface to existing Electronic Interlocking Systems.
* Kavach Version 4.0 has been commissioned over Kota Mathura section covering 324 Route Kilometers on 30.07.2025.
* As of 15.08.2025, progress includes: 5,870 km of OFC laid, 638 telecom towers installed, 708 stations and 1,348 locomotives equipped with Kavach, and 4,012 Rkm of trackside equipment installed.
Expansion and Training:
* Project finalized to equip 10,000 locomotives, with 69 loco sheds prepared.
* Bids invited for track side works of Kavach for approximately 15,000 RKm, with works of 14,954 RKm awarded.
* Over 30,000 technicians, operators, and engineers have been trained on Kavach technology.
Financial Aspects:
* The cost for track side implementation is approximately Rs. 50 Lakhs/km, and locomotive installation is about Rs. 80 Lakhs/loco.
* Funds utilized up to July 2025 is Rs. 2,091 Crores, with an allocation of Rs. 1,673.19 Crores for 2025-26.
Impact Analysis:
Loco Pilots:
* Impact: Kavach aids in running trains within speed limits and ensures safety by automatically applying brakes if needed.
* Action Required: Participate in specialized training programs to learn about Kavach technology.
Railway Engineers and Technicians:
* Impact: Responsible for the installation, maintenance, and operation of the Kavach system.
* Action Required: Participate in specialized training programs to learn about Kavach technology.
Indian Railways (Overall):
* Impact: Enhanced safety and efficiency of train operations.
* Action Required: Continue to deploy Kavach version 4.0 across the Indian Railways network and provide necessary resources for installation and training.
Training Institutes (Centralized):
* Impact: Responsible for providing specialized training programs on Kavach.
* Action Required: Continue conducting specialized training programs and collaborate with IRISET.
Key Entities Referenced
Kavach: An indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system by Indian Railways, aimed at enhancing railway safety.
SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW: Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, responsible for answering the parliamentary question.
South Central Railway: A zone of Indian Railways where Kavach version 3.2 was deployed on 1,465 RKm, providing valuable experience for further improvements.
RDSO: Research Designs and Standards Organisation, the organization that approved Kavach specification version 4.0 on 16.07.2024.
MathuraKota section: A 324 km section where the advanced version of Kavach 4.0 underwent extensive trials and was subsequently approved by the Independent Safety Assessor (ISA).
Independent Safety Assessor ISA: An independent body responsible for the safety assessment and approval of Kavach system deployments.
Optical Fibre Cable: A crucial component of the Kavach system, used for communication and data transmission along the railway tracks.
IRISET: Institution involved in collaboration for designing specialized training programs on Kavach technology for Indian Railways officials.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4551
TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025
INSTALLATION OF ANTI COLLISION DEVICES IN RAILWAY
4551. SHRI ANAND BHADAURIA:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether pace of installation of anti collision device in trains and railway
routes is very slow and Railways would complete the installation of the
same by 2060;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the timeline by which all trains and rail routes would be equipped
with Kavach system;
(d) the details of fund required for the same; and
(e) the details of fund allocated, released and utilised for installation of
Kavach during the current fiscal year along with the physical progress
made in installation of the same, Zone-wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e) :-
1. Kavach is an indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured
Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. Kavach is a highly technology
intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest order
(SIL-4).
--2/--2-
2. Kavach aids the Loco Pilot in running of trains within specified speed
limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so
and also helps the trains to run safely during inclement weather.
3. The first field trials on the passenger trains were started in February
2016. Based on the experience gained and Independent Safety
Assessment of the system by Independent Safety Assessor (ISA), three
firms were approved in 2018-19, for supply of Kavach Ver 3.2.
4. Kavach was adopted as National ATP system in July 2020.
5. Implementation of Kavach System involves following Key Activities:
i. Installation of Station Kavach at each and every station, block
section.
ii. Installation of RFID Tags throughout the track length.
iii. Installation of telecom Towers throughout the section.
iv. Laying of Optical Fibre Cable along the track.
v. Provision of Loco Kavach on each and every Locomotive running on
Indian Railways.
6. Based on deployment of Kavach version 3.2 on 1,465 RKm on south
central Railway, a lot of experience was gained. Using that further
improvements were made. Finally, Kavach specification version 4.0 was
approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024.
7. Kavach version 4.0 covers all the major features required for the diverse
railway network. This is a significant milestone in safety for Indian
Railways. Within a short period, IR has developed, tested and started
deploying Automatic Train Protection System.
--3/--3-
8. Major improvement in Version 4.0 includes increased Location Accuracy,
Improved Information of Signal Aspects in bigger yards, Station to Station
Kavach interface on OFC and Direct Interface to existing Electronic
Interlocking System. With these improvements, Kavach Ver.4.0. is
planned for large scale deployment over Indian Railways.
9. After extensive and elaborate trials in 324 kms of Mathura-Kota section
for advance version of Kavach 4.0, this section is approved by
Independent Safety Assessor (ISA). This is also the first section to be
approved by ISA. Kavach Version 4.0 has been commissioned over Kota–
Mathura section covering 324 Route Kilometers on 30.07.2025.
10. Progress of Key items comprising Kavach system on Indian Railways upto
15.08.2025 is as under:-
SN Items Progress
i. Laying of Optical Fibre Cable 5,870 Km
ii. Installation of Telecom Towers 638 Nos.
iii. Provision of Kavach at Stations 708 Nos.
iv. Provision of Kavach in Loco 1,348 Locos
v. Installation of Track side equipment 4,012 Rkm
11. Project for equipping 10,000 Locomotives has been finalized. 69 number
of loco sheds have been prepared for equipping with Kavach.
12. Bids for track side Works of Kavach for approximately 15,000 RKm have
been invited covering all GQ, GD, HDN and identified sections of Indian
Railways, out of which works of 14,954 RKm have been awarded.
--4/--4-
13. Specialized training programmes on Kavach are being conducted at
centralized training institutes of Indian Railways to impart training to all
concerned officials. By now more than 30,000 technicians, operators and
engineers have been trained on Kavach technology. Courses have been
designed in collaboration with IRISET.
14. The cost for provision of Track Side including Station equipment of
Kavach is approximately Rs. 50 Lakhs/Km and cost for provision of
Kavach equipment on locomotives is approximately Rs. 80 Lakh/Loco.
15. The funds utilized on Kavach works so far up to July'25 is Rs. 2,091
Crores. The allocation of funds during the year 2025-26 is Rs. 1,673.19
Crores. Requisite funds are made available as per the progress of works.
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