Lok Sabha Question No. 746 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Implementation of KAVACH System
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: C. R. Patil, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Anurag Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  746

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## IMPLEMENTATION OF KAVACH SYSTEM

746.  SHRI C.R. PATIL: SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI: SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the steps taken by the Government to enhance the level of passenger safety in Railways;
- (b)  whether  the implementation of  the  KAVACH  system  has  started throughout the country in all the regions of Indian Railways;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the time likely to be taken for the Railways to deploy KAVACH system throughout India;
- (e)  the cost of the KAVACH system once it is implemented;
- (f) whether  the  implementation  of  KAVACH  system  has  started  in  the States of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (g)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  746  BY  SHRI  C.R.  PATIL,  SHRI  PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI AND SHRI ANURAG SHARMA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.02.2024 REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION OF KAVACH

SYSTEM.

(a):  The following steps have been taken by the Government to enhance the level of passenger safety in Railways:

- i). Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha
- ii). Kosh (RRSK) has been introduced in 2017-18 for replacement/renewal/up-gradation of critical safety assets, with a corpus of ₹ 1 lakh crores for five years. From 2017-18 till 2021-22, Gross  expenditure  of  ₹  1.08  lakh  crores  was  incurred  on  RRSK works. In 2022-23, the Govt. extended the currency of RRSK for another period of five years with Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of ₹ 45,000 crores.
- iii). Electrical/Electronic Interlocking Systems with centralized operation  of  points  and  signals  have  been  provided  at  6521 stations  up  to  31.12.2023  to  eliminate  accident  due  to  human failure.
- iv). Interlocking  of  Level  Crossing  (LC)  Gates  has  been  provided  at 11143 level Crossing Gates up to 31.12.2023 for enhancing safety at LC gates.
- v). Complete  Track  Circuiting  of  stations  to  enhance  safety  for verification  of  track  occupancy  by  electrical  means  has  been provided at 6558 stations up to 31.12.2023.
- vi). Detailed  instructions  on  issues  related  with  safety  of  Signalling e.g.  mandatory  correspondence  check,  alteration  work  protocol, preparation of completion drawing, etc. have been issued.
- vii). System of disconnection and reconnection for S&T equipment as per protocol has been re-emphasized.
- viii). All  locomotives  are  equipped  with  Vigilance  Control  Devices (VCD) to ensure alertness of Loco Pilots.
- ix). Retro-reflective sigma boards are provided on the mast which is located two OHE  masts  prior to the signals in electrified territories to warn the crew about the signal ahead when visibility is low due to foggy weather.
- x). A GPS based Fog Safety Device (FSD) is provided to loco pilots in fog affected areas which enables loco pilots to know the distance of  the  approaching  landmarks  like  signals,  level  crossing  gates etc.
- xi). Modern track structure consisting of 60 kg, 90 Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) rails, Pre-stressed Concrete Sleeper (PSC) Normal/Wide  base  sleepers  with  elastic  fastening,  fan-shaped layout turnout on PSC sleepers, Steel Channel/H-beam Sleepers on girder bridges is used while carrying out primary track renewals.
- xii). Mechanisation  of track laying activity through use of track machines like PQRS, TRT, T-28 etc to reduce human errors.
- xiii). Maximizing supply of 130 m/260 m long rail panels for increasing progress  of  rail  renewal  and  avoiding  welding  of  joints,  thereby ensuring safety.
- xiv). Laying  of  longer  rails,  minimizing  the  use  of  Alumino  Thermic Welding  and  adoption  of  better  welding  technology  for  rails  i.e. Flash Butt Welding.
- xv). Monitoring  of  track  geometry  by  OMS  (Oscillation  Monitoring System) and TRC (Track Recording Cars).
- xvi).
- Patrolling of railway tracks to look out for weld/rail fractures.
- xvii). The  use  of  Thick  Web  Switches  and  Weld-able  CMS  Crossing  in
- turnout renewal works.
- xviii). Inspections  at  regular  intervals  are  carried  out  to  monitor  and educate staff for observance of safe practices.
- xix). Web  based  online  monitoring  system  of  track  assets  viz.  Track database  and  decision  support  system  has  been  adopted  to decide rationalized maintenance requirement and optimize inputs.
- xx). Detailed instructions on issues related with safety  of Track e.g. integrated block, corridor block, worksite safety; monsoon precautions etc. have been issued.
- xxi). Preventive maintenance of railway assets (Coaches & Wagons) is undertaken to ensure safe train operations and to keep a check on Rail Accidents across the country.
- xxii). Replacement of conventional ICF design coaches with LHB design coaches is being done.
- xxiii). All unmanned level crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge (BG) route have been eliminated by January 2019.
- xxiv). Safety of Railway Bridges is ensured through regular inspection of  Bridges. The requirement of repair/rehabilitation of Bridges is taken  up  based  upon  the  conditions  assessed  during  these inspections.
- xxv). Indian Railways has displayed Statutory 'Fire Notices' for widespread passenger information in all coaches. Fire posters are provided  in  every  coach  so  as  to  inform  and  alert  passengers regarding  various  do's  and  don'ts  to  prevent  fire.  These  include messages  regarding not carrying any inflammable material, explosives, prohibition of smoking inside the coaches, penalties etc.
- xxvi). Production  Units  are  providing  Fire  detection  and  suppression system in newly manufactured Power Cars and Pantry Cars, Fire and  Smoke  detection  system  in  newly  manufactured  coaches. Progressive  fitment  of  the  same  in  existing  coaches  is  also underway by Zonal Railways in a phased manner.
- xxvii). Regular counselling and training of staff is undertaken.
- xxviii). Concept  of  Rolling  Block  has  been  introduced  in  Indian  Railway (Open Lines) General Rules vide Gazette notification dt.30.11.2023, wherein work of maintenance /repair / replacement is  planned  up  to  52  weeks  in  advance  on  rolling  basis  and executed as per plan.

## (b) to (g):

1. Kavach is 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 help the train safely run during inclement weather.
3. The first field trials on the passenger trains were started in February 2016.  Based  on  the  experience  so  gained  and  Independent  Safety Assessment  of  the  system  by  a  3rd  party  (Independent  Safety Assessor:  ISA)  three  firms  were  approved  in  2018-19,  for  supply  of
3. Kavach.
4. Subsequently Kavach was adopted as a National ATP system in July 2020.
5. Kavach  has  so  far  been  deployed  on  1465  Route  km  and  139 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South Central Railway.
6. Presently  Kavach  tenders  have  been  awarded  for  Delhi  -  Mumbai (including Ahmedabad-Vadodra Section) & Delhi - Howrah (including Lucknow-Kanpur Section) corridors (approximately 3000 Route km). A part of these sectors (around 534 Route Km) passes through state of Gujarat and (around 943 Route Km) of Uttar Pradesh. The progress of main items related to Kavach is as under:
8. (i) Laying of Optical Fibre Cable : 3040 Km
9. (ii) Installation of Telecom Towers : 269 Nos.
10. (iii) Provision of equipment at Stations : 186 Nos.
11. (iv) Provision of equipment in Loco : 170 Locos
12. (v) Installation of Track side equipments : 827 Route Km
7. Indian  Railways  has  also  taken  up  preparatory  works  including survey,  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  and  preparation  of  detailed estimate on another 6000 Rkm, Kavach is being provided on Indian Railway progressively.
8. Implementation of Kavach involves installation of Station Kavach at each and every station, installation of RFID tags throughout the track length and provision of Loco Kavach on each and every Locomotive running  on  Indian  Railway,  a  communication  backbone,  requiring installation of Towers throughout the section, laying of optical Fiber throughout the section.  Presently  there  are  three  Indian  OEMs  who are  approved  for  Kavach.  Efforts  are  being  made  to  develop  more OEMs to enhance the capacity and scale up the implementation of Kavach.
9. 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 loco is approximately Rs. 70 lakh/ loco.
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