Lok Sabha Question No. 3710 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Kavach System across Critical Railway Routes in Punjab
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3710

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.12.2024

## KAVACH SYSTEM ACROSS CRITICAL RAILWAY ROUTES IN PUNJAB

3710. SMT. HARSIMRAT KAUR BADAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to accelerate the rollout of the 'Kavach' system across critical railway routes in Punjab;
- (b) the  plan  to  measure  the  effectiveness  of  the  'Kavach'  system  in preventing accidents on high-density corridors in the said State;
- (c) number of accidents occurred despite deployment of Kavach;
- (d) whether  Kavach  is completely safe and is able to provide protection from train accidents, if so, the details of number of train accidents that took place during the last two years; and
- (e) whether the trains were fitted with 'Kavach' or not and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## 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.
- 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 1465RKm 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 Nov' 2024 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.

| SN.   | Items                                | Progress   |
|-------|--------------------------------------|------------|
| i     | Laying of Optical Fibre Cable        | 5133 Km    |
| ii    | Installation of Telecom Towers       | 540 Nos.   |
| iii   | Provision of Kavach at Stations      | 523 Nos.   |
| iv    | Provision of Kavach in Loco          | 707 Locos  |
| v     | Installation of Track side equipment | 3434 Rkm   |

- b. Bids  for  track  side  Works  of  Kavach  for  approximately  15000 RKm  have  been  invited.    It  covers  all  GQ,  GD,  HDN  and Identified sections of Indian Railways.
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 to  all  concerned  officials.  By  now  more  than  9000  technicians, operators and engineers have been trained on Kavach technology. Courses have been designed in collaboration with IRISET.

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