Lok Sabha Question No. 4270 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Kavach coverage in Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Tejasvi Surya

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4270 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## KAVACH COVERAGE IN RAILWAYS

## 4270. SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of railway lines and networks covered and being covered by the Kavach technology in the country, division-wise;
- (b) the status of the completion of the Kavach lines in other networks;
- (c) the  total  amount  sanctioned  so  far  for  the  implementation  of  the Kavach technology;
- (d) whether  the  use  of  Kavach  would  help  in  prevention  of  accidents and derailments and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether there  is  any  similar  technology  in  use  in  rail  networks  in other countries and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (e):  1.  Kavach  is  an  indigenously  developed  Automatic  Train Protection  (ATP)  system.  Kavach  is  a  highly  technology  intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest order (SIL-4).
2. Kavach aids the Loco Pilot in running of train within specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to

- do  so  and  also  helps  the  trains  to  run  safely  during  inclement weather.
3. The first field trials on the passenger trains were started in February 2016.  Based  on  the  experience  gained  and  Independent  Safety Assessment  of  the  system  by  Independent  Safety  Assessor  (ISA), three firms were approved in 2018-19, for supply of Kavach Ver 3.2.
4. Kavach was adopted as National ATP system in July 2020.
5. Implementation of Kavach System involves following Key Activities:
- a. Installation  of  Station  Kavach  at  each  and  every  station,  block section.
- b.
- Installation of RFID Tags throughout the track length.
- c.
- Installation of telecom Towers throughout the section.
- d. Laying of Optical Fibre Cable along the track.
- e. Provision of Loco Kavach on each and every Locomotive running on Indian Railways.
6. Based  on  deployment  of  Kavach  version  3.2  on1465  RKm  on  south central  Railway,  lot  of  experience  was  gained.  Using  that  further improvements were made. Finally,  Kavach specification  version 4.0 was approved by RDSO on 16.07.2024.
7. Kavach  version  4.0  covers  all  the  major  features  required  for  the diverse railway network. This is a significant milestone in safety for Indian Railways. Within a short period, IR has developed, tested and started deploying Automatic Train Protection System.
8. Major improvement  in  Version 4.0 includes increased Location Accuracy,  Improved  Information  of  Signal  Aspects  in  bigger  yard,
- Station to Station Kavach interface on OFC and Direct Interface to

existing  Electronic  Interlocking  System.  With  these  improvements, Kavach  Ver.4.0.  is  planned  for  large  scale  deployment  over  Indian Railways.

9. Progress of Key items comprising Kavach system on Indian Railways upto Feb' 2025 is as under: -
10. Next phase of Kavach implementation is planned as under:-
- a. Project for  equipping  10,000  Locomotives  has  been  finalized.  69 number  of  loco  sheds  have  been  prepared  for  equipping  with Kavach.
- b. Bids  for  track  side  Works  of  Kavach  for  approximately  15,000 RKm have been invited covering all GQ, GD, HDN and identified sections of Indian Railways, out of which works of 1865 RKm have been awarded.
11. Currently,  3  OEMs  are  approved  for  supply  of  Kavach  System.  To increase capacity and scale of implementation, trials and approval of more OEMs are at different stages.
12. Specialized training programme on Kavach are being conducted at centralized training institutes of Indian Railways to impart training

| SN   | Items                                | Progress   |
|------|--------------------------------------|------------|
| i    | Laying of Optical Fibre Cable        | 5743 Km    |
| ii   | Installation of Telecom Towers       | 540 Nos.   |
| iii  | Provision of Kavach at Stations      | 664 Nos.   |
| iv   | Provision of Kavach in Loco          | 795 Locos  |
| v    | Installation of Track side equipment | 3727 Rkm   |

to  all  concerned  officials.  By  now  more  than  20,000  technicians, operators and engineers have been trained on Kavach technology. Courses have been designed in collaboration with IRISET.

13. 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 locomotives is approximately Rs. 80 Lakh/Loco.
14. The funds utilized on Kavach works so far is Rs. 1950 Crores. The allocation  of  funds  during  the  year  2024-25  is  Rs.  1112.57  Crores. Further,  provision  of  Rs.  2000  Crores  has  been  made  for  Kavach work during the year 2025-26. Requisite funds are made available as per the progress of works.
15. Automatic  Train  Protection  (ATP)  System  are  also  used  in  rail networks in other countries such as European Train Control System (ETCS)  in  European  Countries,  Digital  Automatic  Train  Control  (DATC) system in Japan etc.

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