'Kavach 4.0' Set to Equip 10,000 Locomotives: Ashwini Vaishnaw
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Synopsis
India's automatic train protection system, 'Kavach 4.0', aims to equip 10,000 locomotives. With 69 loco sheds prepared, the project is moving forward. Bids for trackside work cover 15,000 route kilometres. Training for over 20,000 personnel is ongoing, highlighting India's commitment to railway safety and technology.
Key Takeaways
- 'Kavach 4.0' aims to enhance railway safety.
- 10,000 locomotives to be equipped in the next phase.
- 69 loco sheds prepared for the system.
- Over 20,000 trained personnel in Kavach technology.
- Budget allocation for 2024-25 is Rs 1,112.57 crore.
New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) India’s advanced automatic train protection system named ‘Kavach 4.0’ is poised to equip 10,000 locomotives in its next phase (the project has been finalized), with 69 loco sheds readied for this system, the government announced on Wednesday.
Bids for trackside works of Kavach covering approximately 15,000 route kilometres (RKm) have been invited, which encompasses all GQ, GD, HDN, and designated sections of Indian Railways. Of this, works for 1865 RKm have already been awarded, as stated by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
“At present, 3 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are authorized to supply the Kavach System. To boost capacity and implementation scale, trials and approvals for additional OEMs are currently underway,” the minister remarked.
Specialized training programs for Kavach are being administered at centralized training institutes of Indian Railways to train all relevant officials.
“So far, over 20,000 technicians, operators, and engineers have received training on Kavach technology. Courses have been developed in collaboration with IRISET,” Vaishnaw reported.
The estimated cost for the provision of trackside equipment, including station facilities for Kavach, is roughly Rs 50 lakh/km, whereas the cost for Kavach equipment on locomotives is about Rs 80 lakh/Loco.
“The amount spent on Kavach projects to date is Rs 1,950 crore. The budget allocation for the financial year 2024-25 is Rs 1,112.57 crore. Necessary funds will be made available based on work progress,” the minister noted.
Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. It assists the Loco Pilot in maintaining trains within designated speed limits by automatically applying brakes in the event that the Loco Pilot fails to do so, and it also ensures safe train operation during adverse weather conditions.
Significant improvements in Kavach Version 4.0 include enhanced location accuracy, better signal aspect information in larger yards, a station-to-station Kavach interface on OFC, and a direct interface to the existing electronic interlocking system.
“Kavach version 4.0 encapsulates all essential features required for the diverse railway network. This marks a major milestone in safety for Indian Railways. In a short time, IR has developed, tested, and commenced deployment of the Automatic Train Protection System,” the minister stated.
