Lok Sabha Question No. 3100 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-19
Subject: Funds for Installation of Kavach System in Railway
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan, Shri Adhikari Deepak Dev

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3100 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2025

## FUNDS FOR INSTALLATION OF KAVACH SYSTEM IN RAILWAY

3100. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

SHRI ADHIKARI DEEPAK DEV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of funds allocated for installation of anti-collision device Kavach in Railways during the last five years, year-wise;
- (b) the  reasons  for  slow  pace  of  installation  of  Kavach  system  in Railways;
- (c) whether less budget and release of least funds are behind its slow pace;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (e) the steps proposed/to be proposed to accelerate it; and
- (f) the  details  of  Railways  track  covered  by  Kavach  system  as  on 28.02.25 in terms of percentage?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a)  to  (f):      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:
- Installation of Station Kavach at each and every station, block
- a. 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 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

| 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   |

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 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. 1950Crores. The allocation of funds during the year 2024-25 is Rs. 1112.57 Crores. Requisite funds are made available as per the progress of works.

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