+
Govt accelerates installation of Kavach Safety System on railway tracks
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Govt accelerates installation of Kavach Safety System on railway tracks

In response to recent train accidents, the Ministry of Railways has expedited the installation of the Kavach Automatic Train Protection system. Tenders have been issued for the deployment of the system across 9,600 km of railway tracks and for equipping 10,000 locomotives in the upcoming months.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing train accidents by addressing human error, enhancing track maintenance, and strengthening infrastructure.

The Kavach system, which has a Safety Integrity Level (SIL)-4 certification, has been successfully tested on 740 km of tracks, including segments in Mathura-Palwal, Mathura-Nagda, and Kota-Sawai Madhopur. The SIL-4 certification was granted on July 16 this year, following its design in 2016.

In 2021, Vaishnaw and the then Railway Board chairman tested Kavach by running two trains towards each other to validate the system. However, recent accidents have raised concerns about its effectiveness.

Vaishnaw highlighted that Kavach SIL-4 is cost-effective and comparable in efficiency to the European Train Control System. Initially designed as a replacement for a previously discontinued anti-collision device, Kavach aims to address the primary cause of train accidents—driver error, which accounts for about 80% of incidents. The remaining 20% stem from maintenance and infrastructure issues.

As of 2023, 40 train accidents have been reported, with 20 occurring in 2024 to date. The government is focused on reducing this rate further.

Cattle straying onto tracks is a significant accident contributor, with approximately 800 incidents occurring daily. The ministry plans to reduce this figure to 200 over the next few years. Fencing along railway tracks has been implemented, starting with the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route, where no cattle-related accidents have been reported since.

The government is also working to increase train speeds, with newer trains like Vande Bharat achieving averages of 130-140 km per hour, necessitating further fencing along additional routes.

In response to recent train accidents, the Ministry of Railways has expedited the installation of the Kavach Automatic Train Protection system. Tenders have been issued for the deployment of the system across 9,600 km of railway tracks and for equipping 10,000 locomotives in the upcoming months.Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing train accidents by addressing human error, enhancing track maintenance, and strengthening infrastructure.The Kavach system, which has a Safety Integrity Level (SIL)-4 certification, has been successfully tested on 740 km of tracks, including segments in Mathura-Palwal, Mathura-Nagda, and Kota-Sawai Madhopur. The SIL-4 certification was granted on July 16 this year, following its design in 2016.In 2021, Vaishnaw and the then Railway Board chairman tested Kavach by running two trains towards each other to validate the system. However, recent accidents have raised concerns about its effectiveness.Vaishnaw highlighted that Kavach SIL-4 is cost-effective and comparable in efficiency to the European Train Control System. Initially designed as a replacement for a previously discontinued anti-collision device, Kavach aims to address the primary cause of train accidents—driver error, which accounts for about 80% of incidents. The remaining 20% stem from maintenance and infrastructure issues.As of 2023, 40 train accidents have been reported, with 20 occurring in 2024 to date. The government is focused on reducing this rate further.Cattle straying onto tracks is a significant accident contributor, with approximately 800 incidents occurring daily. The ministry plans to reduce this figure to 200 over the next few years. Fencing along railway tracks has been implemented, starting with the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route, where no cattle-related accidents have been reported since.The government is also working to increase train speeds, with newer trains like Vande Bharat achieving averages of 130-140 km per hour, necessitating further fencing along additional routes.

Next Story
Real Estate

Shriram Properties Launches ‘Codename: The One’ in Bengaluru

Shriram Properties (SPL), a leading real estate developer focused on the mid-market and mid-premium segments, has announced the launch of its latest residential project under the banner “Codename: The One” in Bengaluru’s Electronic City corridor. This feature-rich gated community will offer 340 spacious 2- and 3-BHK residences, with a total saleable area of approximately 5 lakh square feet and an estimated revenue potential of over Rs 3.5 billion. The project is expected to be developed over a span of more than three years.  Strategically located near the Bommasandra Metro stat..

Next Story
Resources

India Warehousing Show 2025 Closes with Strong Global Presence

The 14th edition of the India Warehousing Show (IWS) 2025 concluded successfully at Yashobhoomi (IICC), Dwarka, drawing participation from over 300 exhibitors across 15 countries and welcoming 15,000+ visitors. Recognised as India’s leading platform for warehousing and logistics excellence, IWS 2025 offered a comprehensive display of cutting-edge automation, sustainable warehousing solutions, and next-gen supply chain technologies. The show was inaugurated by Shri Pankaj Kumar, Joint Secretary – Logistics, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. In his opening a..

Next Story
Equipment

MHIET Launches 450kW Gas Cogeneration System with H₂ Co-Firing

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger (MHIET), part of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, has launched a new 450kW gas cogeneration system, the SGP M450, jointly developed with Toho Gas Co.,. The system supports hydrogen co-firing at up to 15 vol per cent, with no loss in performance or reliability.  The system is currently available in the Japanese market, and has been developed from the existing GS6R2 city gas engine platform. Key modifications were made to the fuel gas and engine control systems to enable hydrogen co-firing.   Verified through de..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?