Lok Sabha Question No. 4300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: DPR for Installation of Kavach
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. C M Ramesh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4300

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## DPR FOR INSTALLATION OF KAVACH

## 4300. DR. C M RAMESH:

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

- (a) whether  it  is  true  that  the  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  for  the installation of Kavach has been prepared for 6000 route kilometers
- and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it  is  also  true  that  detailed  estimates  for  the  above  6000 route kilometers have also been prepared by the Railways and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Kavach 4.0 is different from Kavach 3.0 specifications and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether any long-term plan has been prepared for the installation of Kavach,  including  the  laying  of  optical  fiber  cable,  installation  of telecom  towers,  providing  equipment  at  stations  and  locos  and installation of trackside equipment and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to  (d):  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).

- 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
2. 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.
- d.
- Installation of telecom Towers throughout the section.
- 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 on 1465 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.

| 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   |

12. Specialized training programme on Kavach are being conducted at centralized training institutes of Indian Railways to impart training 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.

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