On June 17, a tragic accident occurred on the Guwahati-Delhi route when a goods train collided with the Kanchanjunga Express, which was headed to Kolkata, West Bengal. The collision resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people and injuries to over 60 others. This incident, reminiscent of the Balasore accident in 2023, has once again highlighted the importance of the Kavach anti-collision system, which aims to be installed on every railroad in India.
The Kavach automatic train protection (ATP) system, developed by the Research Designs & Standards Organization (RDSO) for Indian Railways, is a technological innovation that has been certified for Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL-4). Launched in 2012 as the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) project, Kavach is designed to reduce accident rates and enhance safety on Indian Railways. The system became operational in 2022.
Kavach works by automatically applying the brakes in emergencies to maintain speed if it detects another train on the same rail route. It signals the train compartment, automatically whistles at level crossings in fog, and accelerates rapidly if the driver fails to do so. The system also frequently updates the railway authority on the train’s movements. Direct communication between locomotives helps avoid collisions, and an SOS feature can be activated to prevent mishaps and accidents.
The railway signaling system, tracks, locomotives, and individual stations are equipped with multiple Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and electronic devices spaced one kilometer apart. The current system uses ultra-high radio frequencies for communication, but a 4G LTE-based system is being developed. Kavach issues warnings if a train driver disregards a signal (Signal Passed at Danger, or SPAD), which is a leading cause of train accidents. The system can notify the train operator instantly and take control of the brakes if it detects another train on the same track within a predetermined distance.
Key components of the European Train Control System and the Indian anti-collision device are combined in Kavach. RFID technology has been installed in the tracks of the railway network, using electromagnetic fields to detect and retrieve data from a wireless device at a distance without direct line of sight or physical contact.
Equipping a locomotive with Kavach technology costs about Rs 70 lakh per unit, and installing trackside and station equipment costs about Rs 50 lakh per kilometre. Kavach received a budget allocation of Rs 710 crore for the fiscal year 2024, compared to an approximate allocation of Rs 560 crore for the 2025 interim budget.
During a February Rajya Sabha meeting, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided an update on the Kavach implementation. He stated that Kavach has been deployed primarily on the South Central Railway network, covering 1,465 route kilometers and employing 139 locomotives, including Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) rakes. He also mentioned that tenders have been awarded for the installation of Kavach on the 3,000 route kilometers that make up the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors.
Vaishnaw highlighted significant advancements in the construction of necessary infrastructure, including the completion of 269 telecom towers and 3,040 kilometers of optical fiber cable installation. Additionally, 170 units have been mounted on locomotives, and 186 pieces of equipment have been placed at stations. Track-side equipment has been deployed across 827 route kilometers.
The recent accident underscores the urgent need for the widespread implementation of the Kavach anti-collision system to ensure the safety and security of train passengers across India.
