Eastern Railway (ER) has been honored with the National Signalling and Telecommunications (S&T) Award 2026 by the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) for demonstrating outstanding performance in Kavach Deployment & Automatic Train Protection Implementation. The implementation of Kavach Version 4.0, India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, has significantly enhanced safety measures for train operations, reducing risks associated with adverse weather conditions and heavy traffic.
ER has achieved significant milestones within the Indian Railways, being the first zonal railway to execute the Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) contract for Kavach implementation on the high-density Mission Raftar Howrah–New Delhi High-Density Route. Additionally, ER has pioneered the commissioning of Kavach Version 4.0 on the Howrah–New Delhi corridor under Mission Raftar, marking a significant advancement in automatic signaling territory.
The extensive project encompassed 260 route km and involved deployment at 47 stations, including integration with various interlocking systems. Notable stations such as Howrah, Liluah, Barddhaman, Asansol, and Sitarampur have been seamlessly integrated into the Kavach network, ensuring a secure journey for passengers. The project also included the installation of RFID tags, UHF radio towers, Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) laying, and the establishment of Centralised Intelligent Kavach Monitoring Systems (CIKMS) for centralized monitoring and diagnostics.
Despite the challenges posed by the Howrah–Barddhaman–Chota Ambana section, known for its complex railway operations, ER successfully implemented the project while upholding the highest safety standards and service continuity. The system underwent rigorous testing and validation processes to meet SIL-4 safety requirements, ensuring passenger safety at speeds of up to 160 kmph.
Passengers can now enjoy safer and more reliable train journeys on heavily trafficked routes, thanks to the modernization efforts of Eastern Railway. Shibram Majhi, CPRO of Eastern Railway, expressed the commitment to further enhancing the railway network to provide world-class services to passengers.
