Western Railway Proposes Rs 4.84 Billion Kavach Works
A key element of the proposal is the installation of Kavach on the Udhna–Jalgaon section, spanning 307 route kilometres. This component is estimated to cost Rs 1.10 billion and is intended to enhance operational safety on the corridor through deployment of the indigenous train protection system.
The second proposal involves the modification, upgradation and programming of 436 locomotives on Western Railway to enable seamless Kavach operations. This work has been estimated at Rs 3.74 billion and is aimed at expanding the number of locomotives compatible with the system.
“These proposals are aimed at strengthening safety systems on Western Railway and expanding the deployment of the indigenous Kavach technology in line with Indian Railways’ safety roadmap,” said Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway.
The proposals will require approval under the relevant works programme before execution can begin. If cleared, they are expected to significantly expand Kavach coverage on Western Railway and allow a larger fleet of locomotives to operate under the collision avoidance framework.
Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection system developed for Indian Railways to prevent accidents caused by human error. The system continuously monitors train speed and movement in relation to signals and other trains. If a loco pilot overshoots a stop signal or exceeds permitted speed, Kavach issues warnings and, in the absence of corrective action, automatically applies the brakes.
The technology relies on constant communication between onboard locomotive equipment, trackside devices and the signalling network. Kavach is designed to prevent Signal Passed at Danger incidents and reduce collision risks on busy routes. It is being rolled out in phases on high-traffic corridors as part of Indian Railways’ broader push to strengthen network safety.