Lok Sabha Question No. 2839 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Installation of Kavach 4.0 on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata Routes
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Mallu Ravi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2839

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2025

## INSTALLATION OF KAVACH 4.0 ON DELHI-MUMBAI AND DELHIKOLKATA ROUTES

## 2839. DR MALLU RAVI:

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

- (a) the specific reasons for the revised deadline of December 2025 for  the  installation  of  'Kavach'  4.0  on  the  high-density  DelhiMumbai  and  Delhi-Kolkata  routes  and  the  percentage  of  this
- work completed as of November 1, 2025;
- (b) the total fund utilised (out of the Rs. 1,950 crore spent so far), route-wise; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  approve  more  vendors and scale up manufacturing capacity given the recent industry statements  (in  November  2025)  that  the  five  year  national rollout  target  is  impossible  with  the  current  three  approved OEMs?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (c)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 (SIL4).
2. Kavach aids the Loco Pilot in running of trains 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:
- i. Installation of Station Kavach at each and every station, block section.
5. ii.
6. Installation of RFID Tags throughout the track length.
- iii. Installation of telecom Towers throughout the section.
8. iv.
9. Laying of Optical Fibre Cable along the track.
- v. 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 and experience gained, 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 yards,  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. After extensive and elaborate trials, Kavach Version 4.0 has been successfully commissioned on 738 Route km on  Palwal -

Mathura- Nagda section (633 Rkm) on Delhi - Mumbai route and Howrah-Bardhaman  section  (105    Rkm)  Delhi  -  Howrah  route. Kavach implementation has been taken up in balance sections of Delhi - Mumbai & Delhi - Howrah corridors.

10. Progress of key items of Kavach on High density routes including Delhi- Mumbai & Delhi- Howrah corridors are as under:
11. Further, track side Kavach implementation work has been taken up  on  15,512  RKm  covering  all  GQ,  GD,  HDN  and  identified sections of Indian Railways.
12. Bids have been invited for equipping another 9,069 locomotives with Kavach version 4.0. Kavach is being provided progressively in a phased manner in locomotives.
13. Specialized training programmes on Kavach are being conducted at centralized training institutes of Indian Railways to impart  training  to  all  concerned  officials.  By  now  more  than 40,000 technicians, operators and engineers have been trained on  Kavach  technology.  This  includes  33,000  Loco  Pilots  & Assistant Loco Pilots. Courses have been designed in collaboration with IRISET.
14. The  funds  utilized  on  Kavach  works  so  far  up  to  Oct'25  is  Rs. 2,354.36 Crores. The allocation of funds during the year 2025-26 is Rs. 1673.19 Crores. Requisite funds are made available as per the progress of works.

| SN   | Item                                 | Progress   |
|------|--------------------------------------|------------|
| i    | Laying of Optical Fibre Cable        | 7129 Km    |
| ii   | Installation of Telecom Towers       | 860 nos    |
| iii  | Station Data Centre                  | 767 Stns   |
| iv   | Installation of Track side equipment | 5672 RKm   |
| v    | Provision of Kavach on Locos         | 4,154      |

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