Lok Sabha Question No. 300 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Status of Kavach System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Khalilur Rahaman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 300 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## STATUS OF KAVACH SYSTEM

300.  SHRI KHALILUR RAHAMAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  will  update  regarding  the  train accidents in the last five years;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  status  of  the  implementation  of Kavach Safety system;
- (c) the number of trains have been fitted with the technology so far along with the number and name;
- (d) the reasons of these collision inspite of using the technology; and
- (e) whether the fund sanctioned for development of Kavach has been diverted to buy furniture and crockery for railways, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 300 BY SHRI KHALILUR RAHAMAN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 24.07.2024 REGARDING STATUS OF KAVACH SYSTEM

(a):  As  a  consequence  of  various  safety  measures  taken  over  the years, there has been a steep decline in the number of accidents. Consequential Train Accidents have reduced from 473 in 2000-01 to 40 in 2023-24 as shown in the graph below.

It  may  noted  that  the  consequential  train  accidents  during  the period  2004-14  was  1711  (average  171  per  annum),  which  has declined to 678 during the period 2014-24 (average 68 per annum).

Another important index showing improved safety in train operations  is  Accidents  Per  Million  Train  Kilometer  (APMTKM) which  has  reduced  from  0.65  in  2000-01  to  0.03  in  2023-24, indicating an improvement of more than 95% during the said period.

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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.
2. Kavach aids the loco pilot in  train running  within  specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so and also helps the train safely run during inclement weather.
3. Implementation of Kavach involves execution of many activities, such as:
4. a.
5. Installation of Station Kavach at each and every station.
6. b.
7. c.
8. d.
9. Installation of RFID tags throughout the track length.
10. Installation of Telecom Towers throughout the section.
11. Laying of optical Fibre cable along the track.
- e. Provision of Loco Kavach on each and every Locomotive running on Indian Railways.
13. Kavach has so far been deployed on 1465 Route km and 144 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South
4. Central Railway.
5. Presently, the progress of main items related to Kavach on Delhi-  Mumbai  &  Delhi-  Howrah  corridors  (approximately 3000 Route km) is as under:
16. (i) Laying of Optical Fibre Cable: 4275 Km
17. (ii)
18. Installation of Telecom Towers: 364 Nos.
19. (iii)
20. Provision of Kavach equipment at Stations: 285 Nos.
21. (iv) Provision of Kavach equipment in Loco: 319 Locos
22. (v) Installation  of  Kavach  Track  side  equipments  :  1384 Route Km.
6. Further, Detailed Project Report (DPR) and Detailed Estimate on another   6000 RKms are approved on Indian Railways.
7. On 16.07.2024, Kavach 4.0 specification has been approved by RDSO. This version 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.
25. (e) Funds sanctioned for Kavach are being used for Kavach only.

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