Lok Sabha Question No. 100 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-26
Subject: Implementation of KAVACH System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Ramapati Ram Tripathi, Deepak Baij

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 100 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2023

## IMPLEMENTATION OF KAVACH SYSTEM

- *100. DR. RAMAPATI RAM TRIPATHI: SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  enhance  the  level  of passenger safety in Railways;
- (b) whether the implementation of the KAVACH system has started in all  the  regions  of  Indian  Railways, if so, the details thereof along with the date on which the said device was invented and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  implement  the  KAVACH system throughout India, if so, the time by which it is likely to be done;
- (d) the total expenditure to be incurred once it is implemented;
- (e) whether the lack of KAVACH system has contributed towards train accidents including the Balasore train tragedy in Odisha;
- (f) if so, whether the Railways has decided to conduct a safety audit in its divisions; and
- (g) if so, the details in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (g)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO.100 BY DR. RAMAPATI RAM TRIPATHI AND SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 26.07.2023 REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF KAVACH SYSTEM.

- (a) In order to enhance the level of safety, Indian Railways have taken steps, some of which are as given below. As a result of these the consequential train accidents have been brought down from 473 in 2000-01 to 48 Nos. in 2022-23:-
1. Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) has been introduced in 2017-18 for Replacement/renewal/upgradation of critical safety assets, with a corpus  of ₹ 1  lakh  crore  for  five  years. From 2017-18 till 2021-22 a Gross expenditure of Rs. 1.08 lakh crore was incurred on RRSK works.
2. Electrical/Electronic  Interlocking  Systems  with  centralized operation  of  points  and  signals  have  been  provided  at  6427 stations.
3. Interlocking of Level Crossing (LC) Gates has been provided at 11093 level Crossing Gates.
4. Complete Track Circuiting of stations  to  enhance  safety  for verification of track occupancy by electrical means has been provided at 6377 stations.
5. Detailed instructions on issues related with safety of Signalling  e.g.  mandatory  correspondence  check,  alteration work protocol, preparation of completion drawing, etc. have been issued.
6. System of disconnection and reconnection for S&T equipment as per protocol has been re-emphasized.
7. All locomotives are equipped with Vigilance Control Devices (VCD) to ensure alertness of Loco Pilots.

8. Retro-reflective sigma boards are provided on the mast which is  located  between  two  OHE  masts  prior  to  the  signals  in electrified territories to warn the crew about the signal ahead when visibility is low due to foggy weather.
9. A Global Positioning System (GPS) based Fog Safety Device (FSD)  is  provided  to  loco  pilots  in  fog  affected  areas  which enables loco pilots to know the distance of the approaching landmarks like signals, level crossing gates etc.
10. Modern  track  structure consisting of 60kg, 90  Ultimate Tensile  Strength  (UTS)  rails,  Prestressed  Concrete  Sleeper (PSC) Normal/Wide  base  sleepers  with  elastic  fastening, fanshaped layout  turnout  on  PSC  sleepers,  Steel  Channel/Hbeam Sleepers  on  girder  bridges  is  used  while  carrying  out primary track renewals.
11. Mechanisation  of  track  laying  activity  through  use  of  track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc to reduce human errors.
12. Maximizing supply of 130m/260m long rail panels for increasing  progress  of  rail  renewal  and  avoiding  welding  of joints, thereby ensuring safety.
13. Laying of longer rails, minimizing the use of Alumino Thermic Welding  and  adoption  of  better  welding  technology  for  rails i.e. Flash Butt Welding.
14. Monitoring of track geometry by OMS (Oscillation Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).
8. 15.
9. Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
16. The use of Thick Web Switches and Weldable Cast Manganese Steel (CMS) Crossing in turnout renewal works.

17. Inspections at regular intervals are carried out to monitor and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
2. Web  based  online  monitoring  system  of  track  assets  viz. support  system  has  been adopted to decide rationalized maintenance requirement and
18. Track database  and decision optimize inputs.
19. Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Track e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety, monsoon precautions etc. have been issued.
20. Preventive maintenance of railway assets (Coaches & Wagons) is undertaken to ensure safe train operations and to keep a check on Rail Accidents across the country.
21. Replacement  of  conventional  Integral  Coach  Factory  (ICF) design  coaches  with  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  design coaches is being done.
22. All  unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) route have been eliminated by January 2019.
23. Safety of Railway Bridges is ensured through regular inspection of Bridges. The requirement of repair/rehabilitation of  Bridges  is  taken  up  based  upon  the  conditions  assessed during these inspections.
24. Indian  Railways  has  displayed  Statutory  "Fire  Notices"  for widespread passenger information in all coaches. Fire posters are provided in every coach so as to inform and alert passengers regarding various Do's and Don't to prevent fire. These include messages regarding not carrying any inflammable material, explosives, prohibition of  smoking inside the coaches, penalties etc.

25. Production Units are providing Fire detection and suppression system  in  newly  manufactured  Power  Cars  and  Pantry  Cars and Fire and Smoke detection system in newly manufactured coaches. Progressive fitment of the same  in existing coaches  is  also  underway  by  Zonal  Railways  in  a  phased manner.
26. Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.

## Summarising the above, the improvements in Safety Performance are tabulated below;

## Data Table for  IR Safety Performance

| SN   | Item                                               | Unit       | During FY 2004-05 to 2013-14   | During FY 2004-05 to 2013-14   | During FY 2014-15 to 2022-23   | During FY 2014-15 to 2022-23   | Comparison of the period 2014-23 with the period 2004-14   |
|------|----------------------------------------------------|------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| SN   | Item                                               | Unit       | Cumulative for 10 years        | Average Per Year               | Cumulative for 9 years         | Average Per Year               | Comparison of the period 2014-23 with the period 2004-14   |
| A.   | Track Maintenance                                  |            |                                |                                |                                |                                |                                                            |
| 1.   | Expenditure on Track Renewal                       | Rs. In Cr. | 47,018                         | 4,702                          | 91,809                         | 10,201                         | 2.2 Times                                                  |
| 2.   | Rail Renewal Primary                               | TKM        | 32,260                         | 3,226                          | 37,284                         | 4,143                          | 1.3 Times                                                  |
| 3.   | Use of high quality rails (60 Kg)                  | KM         | 57,450                         | 5,745                          | 1,23,717                       | 13,746                         | 2.4 Times                                                  |
| 4.   | Longer Rail Panels (260m)                          | KM         | 9,917                          | 992                            | 68,233                         | 7,581                          | 7.7 Times                                                  |
| 5.   | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Rails | TKM        | 20,19,630                      | 2,01,963                       | 26,52,291                      | 2,94,699                       | 1.5 Times                                                  |
| 6.   | USFD (Ultra Sonic Flaw detection) Testing of Welds | Nos.       | 79,43,940                      | 7,94,394                       | 1,73,06,046                    | 19,22,894                      | 2.4 Times                                                  |
| 7.   | Track KM added                                     | TKM        | 14,985                         | 1,499                          | 25,871                         | 2,875                          | 1.9 Times                                                  |
| 8.   | Weld failures                                      | Nos.       | In 2013-14 : 3699              | In 2013-14 : 3699              | In 2022-23: 724                | In 2022-23: 724                | 80% Reduction                                              |
| 9.   | Rail fractures                                     | Nos.       | In 2013-14 : 2548              | In 2013-14 : 2548              | In 2022-23: 531                | In 2022-23: 531                | 79% Reduction                                              |

| 10   | Thick Web Switches                                                           | Nos.            | Nil                    | Nil                    | 15,146                                             | 1,683                                              |                |
|------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------------|------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------|
| 11   | Track Machines                                                               | Nos.            | As on 31.03.14 = 748   | As on 31.03.14 = 748   | As on 31.03.23 = 1548                              | As on 31.03.23 = 1548                              | 2.1 Times      |
| B.   | Level Crossing Gate Elimination                                              |                 |                        |                        |                                                    |                                                    |                |
| 1.   | Elimination of Unmanned Level Crossing                                       | Nos.            | As on 31.03.2014: 8948 | As on 31.03.2014: 8948 | As on 31.03.2023: Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | As on 31.03.2023: Nil (All eliminated by 31.01.19) | 100% Reduction |
| 2.   | Elimination of Manned Level Crossing Gates                                   | Nos.            | 1,137                  | 114                    | 6,291                                              | 699                                                | 6.2 Times      |
| 3.   | Construction of Road over Bridges (i.e. Flyovers)/ Road under Bridges ( i.e. | Nos.            | 4,148                  | 415                    | 10,867                                             | 1,207                                              | 2.9 Times      |
| 4.   | Expenditure on LC Elimination                                                | Rs. In Cr.      | 5,726                  | 573                    | 30,602                                             | 3,400                                              | 5.9 Times      |
| C.   | Bridge Rehabilitation                                                        |                 |                        |                        |                                                    |                                                    |                |
| 1.   | Expenditure on Bridge Rehabilitation                                         | Rs. In Cr.      | 3,919                  | 392                    | 6,380                                              | 709                                                | 1.8 Times      |
| D.   | Signalling                                                                   |                 |                        |                        |                                                    |                                                    |                |
| 1.   | Electronic Interlocking                                                      | Stations        | 837                    | 84                     | 2,521                                              | 280                                                | 3.3 Times      |
| 2.   | Automatic Block Signaling                                                    | Km              | 1,486                  | 148.6                  | 1,915                                              | 212.8                                              | 1.4 Times      |
| 3.   | Fog Pass Safety Devices                                                      | Nos.            | As on 31.03.14 : 90    | As on 31.03.14 : 90    | As on 31.03.23 : 19,742                            | As on 31.03.23 : 19,742                            | 219 Times      |
| E    | Rolling Stock                                                                |                 |                        |                        |                                                    |                                                    |                |
| 1.   | Manufacture of LHB Coaches                                                   | No.             | 2,337                  | 234                    | 31,956                                             | 3,551                                              | 15.2 Times     |
| 2.   | Provision of Fire and Smoke Detection System in coaches                      | Nos. of Coaches | 0                      | 0                      | 12,711                                             | 1,412                                              |                |
| 3.   | Provision of Fire Detection and Suppression System in Pantry and Power Cars  | Nos. of Coaches | 0                      | 0                      | 2,635                                              | 293                                                |                |

| 4.   | Provision of Fire Extinguishers in Non -AC coaches                                | Nos. of Coaches   | 0        | 0      | 39,819                        | 4,424   |           |
|------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------|----------|--------|-------------------------------|---------|-----------|
| F.   | Gross Budgetary Support for Railway Investment (GBS FY 23- 24 : Rs 2.4 Lakhs Cr.) | Rs. In Cr.        | 1,56,739 | 15,674 | 8,25,967 ( Incl. of BE 23-24) | 82,597  | 5.3 Times |
| G.   | Expenditure on safety related works                                               | Rs. In Cr.        | 70,273   | 7,027  | 1,78,012 ( Incl. of BE 23-24) | 17,801  | 2.5 Times |

Owing to these steps, there has been a significant improvement in the safety  performance  of  Indian  Railways  over  the  years,  as  shown below.

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- (b) to  (d)  Regarding  the  implementation  and  expenditure  of  Kavach system the details are as under:
1. Kavach is indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. Kavach  is a highly technology intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest order.
2. Kavach  aids  the  loco  pilot  in  train  running  within  specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco

Pilot  fails  to  do  so  and  also  help  the  train  safely  run  during inclement weather.

3. The first field  trials  on  the  passenger  trains  were  started  in February  2016.  Based  on  the  experience  so  gained  and Independent Safety Assessment of the system by a 3rd party (Independent Safety Assessor: ISA) three firms were approved in 2018-19, for supply of Kavach.
4. Subsequently Kavach was adopted as a National ATP system in July 2020.
3. Kavach has so far been deployed on 1465 Route km and 121 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South
5. Central Railway.
6. Kavach  tenders  have  been  awarded  for  Delhi  -  Mumbai  & Delhi - Howrah corridors (approximately 3000 Route km) and work is in progress on these routes.
7. Indian  Railways  is  preparing  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR) and detailed estimate for another 6000 RKm.
8. The  amount  spent  so  far  on  Kavach  implementation  is Rs.351.91  Crores.    The  Cost  for  provision  of  Track  side including  Station  equipment  of  Kavach  is  approximately  Rs. 50 Lakhs/Km and cost for provision of Kavach equipment on loco is approximately Rs. 70 lakh/ loco.
9. Presently there are three Indian OEMs who are approved for Kavach. Efforts are being made to develop more vendors to enhance  the  capacity  and  scale  up  the  implementation  of Kavach.

- (e)  to  (g)  Balasore  train  accident  is  not  linked  with  the  provision  of Kavach.

Kavach is an Automatic Train protection system which is an aid to  Loco  Pilot  in  train  running  within  specified  speed  limits,  by automatic application of Brakes in case the Loco Pilot fails to do so. It also applies brake in case a Loco Pilot fails to apply brakes at Red Signal.

*****