In a significant move to enhance rail safety, Indian Railways is set to deploy the indigenous ‘Kavach’ automatic train protection system across the Guntur Railway Division.

Developed and approved by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), Kavach is a digital safety system designed to prevent collisions by automatically applying brakes in cases such as signal overshoots or potential head-on crashes. The system is particularly vital during low visibility or instances of human error.

“If a train fails to stop at a red signal or is at risk of a head-on collision, the system overrides manual controls and halts the train,” said Guntur Divisional Railway Manager Sudeshna Sen.

The DRM added that the Kavach initiative has been sanctioned across multiple divisions of South Central Railway, covering a total of 1,570 km at a cost of Rs 4.60 billion.

Under Phase I, the Guntur Division will see implementation over four critical routes: Nandyal–Guntur (256.98 km), Guntur–Nadikudi (95.25 km), Nadikudi–Bibinagar (152.69 km), and Guntur–Krishna Canal (27.12 km), totalling 532.04 km. This phase alone involves an investment of Rs 980.16 million.

Preparatory work will include laying optical fibre cables along railway tracks, installation of telecom towers, and integration of data centres with the existing signalling infrastructure. Trains will also be equipped with onboard Kavach units for real-time monitoring and emergency intervention.

The initiative is part of Indian Railways’ broader modernisation strategy and is expected to significantly enhance passenger safety and operational reliability.

News source: The New Indian Express