New Delhi: Indian Railways is moving quickly to install its Kavach automatic train protection system across 10,000 locomotives and over 1,100 kilometers of tracks. Officials say contracts for these installations are expected to be awarded this month.
Currently, around 1,500 kilometers of tracks are already using Kavach, with ongoing work on an additional 3,000 kilometers. The new bids will cover important routes, including parts of the Delhi-Chennai and Mumbai-Chennai sections. By 2025-26, the Railways plans to expand Kavach to another 17,000 kilometers, and by 2027-28, to 30,000 kilometers, targeting nearly 90% of its network.
Kavach, developed in India, aims to prevent accidents caused by human error or equipment failures. It offers real-time information to train pilots, making it safer to run trains at higher speeds. The latest version, Kavach 4.0, was recently installed on the Kota-Sawai Madhopur section, with trials underway on other routes.
The Railway Ministry is pushing for a faster rollout as part of a broader safety plan to cover most of the network by 2030, enhancing safety and efficiency in train operations.
