Lok Sabha Question No. 2120 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-02
Subject: Kavach Protection System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Uday Pratap Singh, Andimuthu Raja, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2120 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2023

## KAVACH PROTECTION SYSTEM

2120.  SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

SHRI UDAY PRATAP SINGH:

SHRI A. RAJA:

SHRIMATI KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  data  on  the  extent  of  railway meterage covered by Kavach Protection System;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  State/zone-wise  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) i.e., Kavach technology is effective in stopping accidents like head-on collision and rear-end collision in the same track;
- (d) if so, the reasons for not covering all sections with Kavach safety;
- (e) whether  all rakes like passenger  coaches,  AC  and  non-AC coaches  have  been  fitted  with  anti-collision  devices,  in  each Zonal Railway, if so, the details thereof;
- (f) if not, the number of rail engines equipped with Kavach technology  so  far  during  the  past  three  years  and  the  present year; and
- (g) the details of expenditure incurred so far and targets earmarked for installation of Kavach Protection System by the Government, State-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to  (g)  Regarding  installation  and  safety  features  of  Kavach,  the details are:
- Kavach  is  indigenously  developed  Automatic  Train  Protection (ATP) system.  Kavach is a highly technology intensive system,
1. which requires safety certification of highest order.
- 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
2. 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.
5. Kavach has so far been deployed on 1465 Route km (Rkm) and 121 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South Central  Railway  in  Telangana  (684  Rkm),  Andhra  Pradesh  (66 Rkm), Karnataka (117 Rkm) & Maharashtra (598 Rkm) States.
6. Kavach tenders have been awarded for Delhi - Mumbai & Delhi Howrah corridors (approximately 3000 Route km) and work is in progress  on  these  routes  in  West  Bengal  (229Rkm),  Jharkhand (193Rkm), Bihar (227Rkm), Uttar Pradesh (943Rkm), Delhi (30Rkm), Haryana (81Rkm), Rajasthan (425Rkm), Madhya Pradesh (216Rkm), Gujarat (526Rkm), Maharashtra (84Rkm) States.
7. Indian  Railways  is  preparing  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  and detailed estimate for another 6000 RKm.

8. 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.
9. The Cost for provision of Track side including Station equipment of Kavach is approximately ₹ 50 Lakhs/Km and cost for provision of  Kavach  equipment  on  loco  is  approximately ₹ 70  lakh/  loco. The amount spent so far on Kavach implementation is ₹ 351.91 Crores.    The  budgetary  allocation  for  Kavach  during  the  year 2023-24 in ₹ 710.12  Crores.    The  projects  are  sanctioned  zonewise and not State wise as Indian Railway's projects may span across  State  boundaries.  Therefore,  State  wise  expenditure  is not maintained.

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