Lok Sabha Question No. 249 (STARRED), answered on 2022-08-03
Subject: Kavach Technology in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Kirti Vardhan Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 249 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2022

## KAVACH TECHNOLOGY IN RAILWAYS

*249. SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Railways  is aiming for zero train accidents by developing an indigenous safety device and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) the time by which Kavach is likely to be installed in all the trains;
- (c) the details of other benefits of this safety device; and

(d) whether the Railways is planning to export Kavach technology to other  countries  so  as  to  earn  foreign  revenue  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.249 BY SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.08.2022  REGARDING  KAVACH  TECHNOLOGY  IN RAILWAYS

- (a) Yes,  Sir.  In  order  to  prevent  accidents,  due  to  human  error resulting in 'Signal Passing At Danger' and 'Over speeding', Indian Railway  has  developed  indigenous  ATP  System  (Automatic  Train Protection  System),  'Kavach'  in  association  with  three  Indian firms. This is achieved by automatic application of brakes whenever  the  train  speed  exceeds  safety  limits.  'Kavach'  also helps in train running during inclement weather such as dense fog when visibility of the signals is hampered.
- (b) In July 2020, an in principle decision was taken to adopt 'Kavach' as  the  National  Automatic  Train  Protection  System  of  Indian Railway.

Works of Kavach for more than 35000 RKm (Route Kilometer) on High Density Network (HDN) / Highly Utilized Network (HUN) routes have been included in Works Programme of 2020-21 & 2021-22.

Keeping  in  view,  the  complexities  involved  in  implementation, which require all Rolling Stock, way side stations and track to be equipped with Kavach, it has been decided to implement Kavach in a phased manner.

At  present Kavach  has  been  deployed  on  1445  RKm  of  South Central Railway, on Bidar - Parli Vaijnath -Parbhani and Manmad Parbhani  -  Nanded  -  Secunderabad  -  Gadwal  -  Dhone  -  Guntakal sections.

Indian  Railways  has  also  taken  up  deployment  of  Kavach  on approximately  3000  RKm  of  Delhi  -  Mumbai  &  Delhi  -  Howrah corridors  for  which  Tenders  have  been  invited  and  are  under evaluation.

Further, Indian Railways has taken up preparatory works including survey,  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  and  preparation  of  detailed estimate on another 6000 RKm.

Roll out of Kavach shall be progressively taken up to cover entire network of Indian Railways.

## (c) The benefits of 'Kavach' system are

1. Kavach is an aid to Loco Pilot to prevent consequences arising out of 'Signal Passing At Danger' and overspeeding by automatic application of brakes.
2. Kavach controls speed of the train by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so on approach of turnouts, temporary speed restriction (TSR) and permanent speed restriction (PSR).
3. The line side Signal Aspects are repeated in cab which is useful
3. for higher speeds & foggy weather.
5. 4.
6. Automatic whistling at LC gate.
7. (d) Yes,  Sir.  India  is  one  of  the  few  countries  world  over  who  have developed their own train protection technology.

Kavach  has  been  certified  for  highest  level  of  Safety  Integrity Level-SIL4 by Independent Safety Assessor. With this, Kavach has potential  for  adoption  by  other  countries.  It  is  envisaged  that  in future Kavach will be exported to other Countries.

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