Kavach 4.0 Rolled Out on Delhi–Mumbai Rail Route

05 Aug 2025 CW Team

Indian Railways has begun the deployment of its most advanced indigenous train safety system, Kavach 4.0, with the first operational rollout on the Mathura–Kota stretch of the high-traffic Delhi–Mumbai corridor.

The launch marks a key milestone in the modernisation of railway safety infrastructure and aligns with the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. Kavach—meaning “armour”—is an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed entirely in India. The latest 4.0 version includes upgraded features designed to minimise human error and enhance the overall security of railway operations.

Kavach 4.0 operates using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags installed every kilometre along the railway line and at signal points. These allow real-time tracking of train positions. The system is supported by an extensive network of telecom towers and fibre optic cables that ensure seamless data exchange between locomotives and central control centres.

Notably, the technology functions reliably even in poor weather conditions such as dense fog. Loco pilots receive vital information directly on their cabin dashboards, reducing dependence on external signals. It is integrated with the braking system, enabling automatic emergency braking when required.

Kavach 4.0 is built to comply with Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL4)—the highest global safety standard—and has been approved for trains running at speeds up to 160 kmph. Its implementation involves infrastructure similar to a dedicated telecom network, due to the significant installation of fibre cabling and communication towers.

To date, Indian Railways has installed the system across over 4,000 km of track, covering 708 stations and 1,107 locomotives. The backbone includes 5,856 km of optical fibre and 619 telecom towers. Over 30,000 railway personnel have been trained to ensure effective implementation and operation of the system across the network.

Infrastructure Transport

09 Jan 2026

India Becomes First to Produce Bio-Bitumen for Roads

India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for use in road construction, according to Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Bitumen, a black and viscous hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, is a key binding material in road building, and the bio-based alternative is expected to significantly improve the sector’s environmental footprint.Addressing the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari congratulated Council of Scientific and Industrial Research on achieving the milestone, noting that the initiative would help curb ..

HILT Policy Seen Boosting Telangana Revenue Sharply

The Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation (HILT) Policy is expected to generate around Rs 1.08 billion in revenue for the Telangana state exchequer, according to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. Speaking in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, he said the policy would be implemented within a six-month timeframe in a transparent manner, with uniform rules applicable to all stakeholders. Mr Vikramarka noted that without the HILT Policy, the state would have earned only about Rs 1.2 million per acre. Under the new framework, however, revenue is projected to rise sharply to Rs 70 ..

India Post, MoRD Tie Up to Boost Rural Inclusion

The Department of Posts and the Ministry of Rural Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate rural transformation and expand financial, digital and logistics services for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural households across India. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The collaboration aligns with the government’s “Dak Sewa, Jan Sewa” vision and seeks to repositi..