Madurai, March 19 (NationPress) Rail safety in Tamil Nadu is on the verge of a significant enhancement as the Southern Railway embarks on the deployment of the Kavach Train Collision Avoidance System along the Tiruchy-Tirunelveli route. This initiative, designed to avert accidents using cutting-edge automatic protection technology, has garnered approval with a projected budget of Rs 110.78 crore. The details emerged from a Right to Information (RTI) application submitted by railway advocate Dayanand Krishnan, which reveals insights into both safety measures and the infrastructure status within the Madurai Division.

The information provided by R. Siva, the Senior Divisional Operations Manager and Public Information Officer, highlights crucial upgrades slated for the division.

According to the RTI response, the Kavach system will encompass the entire 316.7 route kilometers between Tiruchy and Tirunelveli, establishing a vital safety barrier on one of the region’s key rail routes.

In conjunction with this, the division has proposed the modernization of signaling systems to facilitate smoother and safer train operations. Additionally, two railway stations in the Madurai-Dindigul section are set to receive upgrades featuring electronic interlocking systems at a cost of Rs 23.96 crore. This transition aims to replace outdated systems, significantly minimizing the potential for manual errors in train management.

The Madurai Division currently oversees 97 railway stations. Of these, 59 stations are equipped with Road Relay Interlocking (RRI) systems, while 38 stations feature more advanced Electronic Interlocking systems. However, there are still 107 non-interlocked level crossing gates, indicating room for further safety enhancements.

Data on track utilization for 2024-25 reveals that the double-line trunk routes between Dindigul-Madurai and Madurai-Virudhunagar are experiencing high traffic density.

Among the single-line sections, the Manamadurai-Rameswaram route recorded the highest usage at 77.5 percent, while other branch lines continue to function below 50 percent capacity.

Krishnan emphasized that while the rollout of the Kavach system is a positive development, further enhancements such as automatic block signaling are essential to fully optimize route capacity and improve operational efficiency.

He highlighted that without these advancements, the advantages of the current infrastructure may not be completely realized.

Krishnan also pointed out that the Madurai Division serves several significant pilgrimage sites and is facing increasing passenger demand, urging for the expansion of short-distance suburban services like MEMU and Vande Metro trains.

Enhancing connectivity to locations such as Thoothukudi, Rameswaram, and Pollachi would alleviate congestion on long-distance trains and provide improved travel options for daily commuters.