Parliament Question: Installation of Automated Train Protection System-Kavach on Tirunelveli Routes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2934 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2026 INSTALLATION OF AUTOMATED TRAIN PROTECTION SYSTEM-KAVACH ON TIRUNELVELI ROUTES 2934. SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken/authorised the installation of the automated train protection system 'Kavach' on the high-congestion tracks connecting Chennai and the Tirunelveli junction and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of total route in kilometers covered, funds sanctioned/released and the physical progress achieved during each of the last three years, year-wise; (c) the details of reasons for the delay in rolling out this vital digital braking safety infrastructure across these heavy-density Southern passenger lines; and (d) the further steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to fast- track the deployment of Kavach on all major long-distance routes serving Tirunelveli and the time-frame fixed therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (d): 1. Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. Kavach is a highly technology intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest order (SIL-4). § Page 1 of 42. 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: a. Installation of Station Kavach at each and every station, block section. b. Installation of RFID Tags throughout the track length. c. Installation of telecom Towers throughout the section. d. Laying of Optical Fibre Cable along the track. e. 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 and experience gained, 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. 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 Page 2 of 4existing 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, Kavach Version 4.0 has been successfully commissioned on 2,633 Route Kilometres as on 31.07.26, covering the high density Delhi- Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes as below: SN Section Progress (Route Km) (1) Delhi-Mumbai route: 1,423 Rkm i Tilak Bridge - Junction cabin – Palwal – 1,327 Mathura –Kota-Nagda-Ratlam–Vadodara- Virar section ii Vadodara – Ahmedabad section 96 (2) Delhi – Howrah route: 1,210 Rkm i. Chipyana - Tundla - Kanpur - Subedarganj 563 section ii. Kanpur – Lucknow section 71 iii. Mirzapur - DDU (Excluding) section 64 iii. DDU(FOC)-Bhabua Road section 50 iv. Sasaram - Phesar section 43 v. Gaya -Sarmatarn- Nimiaghat section 159 vi. Chota Ambana - Bardhaman – Howrah 260 section 10. In addition, track side Kavach implementation work has been taken up on 21,794 RKM covering all GQ,GD,HDN and identified sections of Page 3 of 4Indian Railways. Also, Kavach work has been sanctioned in the Chennai beach - Tirunelveli Junction section of about 650 Rkm. 11. The total Progress of key items of Kavach on Indian Railway sections are as under:- SN Item Progress i Laying of Optical Fibre Cable 11,547 Km ii Installation of Telecom 1,721 Nos. Towers iii Station Data Centre 1,009 station iv Installation of Track side 7,726 RKm equipment v Provision of Kavach in Loco 6,290 Nos. 12. In addition, work for installation of Kavach in 7,190 Locomotives and 1,200 EMU/MEMU has been taken up. 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 94,000 technicians, operators and engineers have been trained on Kavach technology. This includes about 57,000 Loco Pilots & Assistant Loco Pilots. Courses have been designed in collaboration with IRISET. 14. The funds utilized on Kavach works so far up to Jun'26 is Rs. 3,875 Crores. The allocation of funds during the year 2026-27 is Rs. 2,066 Crores. Kavach work is going at good pace in the entire country. Requisite funds are made available as per the progress of works. ***** Page 4 of 4