The Ministry of Railways announced the approval for installing the indigenous train protection system, Kavach, on 631 route kilometres of the East Coast Railway network, costing Rs 270 crore. This project will cover six significant railway sections, including Baghuapal–Budhapank, Haridaspur–Paradeep, and Khurda Road-Balangir. Kavach, an Automatic Train Protection system, aims to enhance operational safety by preventing signal passing at danger, overspeeding, and train collisions.
The Kavach system, developed in India, utilizes LTE-based communication to monitor train movements continuously and apply brakes automatically when necessary, thereby improving safety in train operations. Its installation on these routes will offer automatic train protection and collision-avoidance capabilities, contributing to a higher level of operational safety. Additionally, this system is expected to enhance the reliability of train services, especially during adverse weather conditions like dense fog.
Railway officials anticipate that the implementation of Kavach on these routes will benefit both passenger and freight train operations in Odisha and neighboring regions served by the East Coast Railway. This initiative is set to improve punctuality, operational efficiency, and safety infrastructure on strategically important routes. The government’s approval aligns with Indian Railways’ broader efforts to modernize signaling and safety systems across the national rail network.
