Kavach, India’s indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, has reached a significant milestone with the approval of Version 4.0 by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) on July 16, 2024. This advanced system, which meets the highest safety certification standards (SIL-4), enhances railway safety and operational efficiency. Initially tested on passenger trains in 2016, Kavach was officially adopted as India’s National ATP system in July 2020. The latest version builds on the deployment of Version 3.2 across 1,465 route kilometers (RKm) on South Central Railway, incorporating improvements such as enhanced location accuracy, better signal information in large yards, an upgraded station-to-station interface via optical fiber cable, and direct integration with existing electronic interlocking systems. To expand Kavach’s deployment, Indian Railways has finalised a project to equip 10,000 locomotives with the system, with 69 locomotive sheds already prepared for installation. Bids have been invited for trackside deployment across 15,000 RKm, covering key rail corridors. Contracts for 1,865 RKm have already been awarded. Currently, three original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are approved to supply the system, with additional OEMs undergoing trials to scale up implementation. Indian Railways has also launched specialised training programs at its centralised institutes, including IRISET, with over 20,000 technicians, operators, and engineers already trained. The cost of installing Kavach on tracks and stations is approximately Rs 5 million per kilometer, while locomotive installation costs Rs 8 million per unit. So far, Rs 19.5 billion has been spent on Kavach implementation, with Rs 11.12 billion allocated for 2024-25. Funding will be provided based on project progress, ensuring timely execution of this critical safety initiative. This update was provided by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. (PIB)