Indian Railways Speeds Up Kavach Safety System Rollout

16 Oct 2025 CW Team

On Monday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that Kavach implementation is now at an advanced stage on two major railway corridors — Delhi–Howrah (Kolkata) and Delhi–Mumbai. He added that the system has already been installed on around 1,200 locomotives, with its benefits set to become evident soon.

Adopted as the National ATP System in July 2020, Kavach represents a major leap forward in India’s drive towards safer and smarter rail operations. For FY2025–26, the Ministry of Railways allocated Rs 16.73 billion for the project, while Rs 20.15 billion had already been utilised for Kavach-related works by June 2025.

The installation cost for the trackside and station equipment is approximately Rs 5 million per kilometre, while the cost of fitting Kavach equipment on locomotives stands at about Rs 8 million per unit.

Key components of the implementation include:

Station-level Kavach installations at every block section.

RFID tags placed along track lengths to aid location accuracy.

Telecom towers across railway sections to ensure connectivity.

Optical fibre cable (OFC) laid alongside tracks for data transmission.

Loco Kavach devices fitted on every locomotive operating across the IR network.

The latest Kavach Version 4.0 introduces several significant upgrades, including improved location accuracy, enhanced signal aspect visibility in large railway yards, station-to-station Kavach interface through OFC, and a direct interface with electronic interlocking systems.

Describing the progress as a “milestone in Indian Railways’ safety journey,” officials noted that Kavach’s expanding footprint will drastically reduce the risk of collisions and signal-passed-at-danger (SPAD) incidents, aligning with India’s goal of zero-accident train operations.

Once fully deployed, Kavach will make India one of the few countries with a homegrown, large-scale railway protection system, offering world-class safety standards across its extensive network.

Indian Railways (IR) is accelerating the nationwide deployment of Kavach, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to enhance operational safety and prevent accidents. The technology automatically applies brakes if a Loco Pilot fails to act within speed limits, ensuring safer operations, especially during adverse weather conditions. On Monday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that Kavach implementation is now at an advanced stage on two major railway corridors — Delhi–Howrah (Kolkata) and Delhi–Mumbai. He added that the system has already been installed on around 1,200 locomotives, with its benefits set to become evident soon. Adopted as the National ATP System in July 2020, Kavach represents a major leap forward in India’s drive towards safer and smarter rail operations. For FY2025–26, the Ministry of Railways allocated Rs 16.73 billion for the project, while Rs 20.15 billion had already been utilised for Kavach-related works by June 2025. The installation cost for the trackside and station equipment is approximately Rs 5 million per kilometre, while the cost of fitting Kavach equipment on locomotives stands at about Rs 8 million per unit. Key components of the implementation include: Station-level Kavach installations at every block section. RFID tags placed along track lengths to aid location accuracy. Telecom towers across railway sections to ensure connectivity. Optical fibre cable (OFC) laid alongside tracks for data transmission. Loco Kavach devices fitted on every locomotive operating across the IR network. The latest Kavach Version 4.0 introduces several significant upgrades, including improved location accuracy, enhanced signal aspect visibility in large railway yards, station-to-station Kavach interface through OFC, and a direct interface with electronic interlocking systems. Describing the progress as a “milestone in Indian Railways’ safety journey,” officials noted that Kavach’s expanding footprint will drastically reduce the risk of collisions and signal-passed-at-danger (SPAD) incidents, aligning with India’s goal of zero-accident train operations. Once fully deployed, Kavach will make India one of the few countries with a homegrown, large-scale railway protection system, offering world-class safety standards across its extensive network.

Resources

03 Jun 2026

Jyoti Structures Launches Heat Safety Drive Across Sites

Jyoti Structures (JSL) has strengthened heat safety measures across its project sites and manufacturing facilities as temperatures rise across India. The company has implemented a Summer Safety Plan covering all transmission line projects to address risks related to heat stress, dehydration and worker fatigue.The initiative includes rescheduling work away from peak afternoon temperatures, provision of drinking water, ORS and lemon-salt solutions, and installation of rest shelters near work areas. Daily toolbox talks, worker health monitoring, first-aid preparedness, emergency transport arrange..

Real Estate

03 Jun 2026

MHADA Declares 82 Buildings Most Dangerous in Central and South Mumbai

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has declared 82 buildings as most dangerous across Central and South Mumbai and has appealed to residents to vacate immediately. The list, prepared after structural assessments by the authority, identifies buildings judged to pose imminent risk to occupants and to passersby. Local civic bodies have been asked to coordinate evacuations and to make arrangements for temporary shelter and rehabilitation for displaced households. Officials said the authority prioritised buildings with visible structural distress, severe cracking, tiltin..

Infrastructure Transport

03 Jun 2026

Damage Reported At Halwara Airport Terminal After First Rains

Severe damage was reported at the terminal of Halwara Airport during the first major rain spell of the season, prompting immediate concern among aviation and local authorities. Images from the site showed water ingress and visible deterioration of the terminal interior, affecting passenger areas and ancillary services. The airport authority suspended certain operations temporarily to assess structural safety and ensure passenger wellbeing. Preliminary inspections have prioritised electrical systems and roof seals to prevent further water ingress. State aviation officials ordered a formal inqui..