The Indian Railways has given the green light for installing Kavach Version 4.0 on 598 route kilometers, covering 48 block sections in the Ahmedabad Division of the Western Railway in Gujarat. This safety initiative comes with a price tag of Rs 140 crore. Kavach, an Automatic Train Protection system, aims to boost operational safety by preventing Signal Passing at Danger, applying brakes when necessary, controlling train speed in critical situations, and reducing collision risks.
The project expands the existing Kavach coverage in the Ahmedabad Division to ensure a comprehensive deployment of this indigenous safety system. Under the broader program for Kavach provision with LTE-based communication backbone on Indian Railways’ routes, this initiative is a step towards modernizing train operations and enhancing safety measures. Recent approvals include equipping 232 locomotives in Southern Railway with on-board Kavach equipment at a cost of Rs 208.81 crore, part of the larger plan costing ₹27,693 crore.
Furthermore, the Indian Railways has sanctioned optic fiber cables for Kavach implementation on North Central Railway, amounting to Rs 176.7699 crore. This move is aimed at bolstering communication infrastructure on high-density routes to support Kavach deployment effectively. Additionally, South Central Railway has received approval for two projects totaling Rs 578.02 crore to replace panel interlocking with electronic systems, enhancing signaling reliability and safety on busy routes.
