Lok Sabha Question No. 4287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Implementation of Kavach 4.0 and AI based Rail Security Infrastructures
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4287

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

## IMPLEMENTATION OF KAVACH 4.0 AND AI BASED RAIL SECURITY

## INFRASTRUCTURES

## †4287. SMT. ANITA NAGARSINGH CHOUHAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether Kavach 4.0 and Artificial Intelligence (Al) based railway safety infrastructure  are  being  implemented  by  the  Indian Railways  with  the objective  of  preventing  train  accidents,  enhancing  the  safety  of  train operations  and  minimizing  human  errors  and  if  so,  the  key  technical
- provisions and features thereof;
- (b) the number of railway routes, stations and locomotives in the country collision systems have been installed so far, along with the targets set
- where  Kavach  system,  Al-based  signalling,  track  monitoring  and  antifor the next two years; and
- (c)  whether there is any proposal under consideration of the Railways to implement Kavach 4.0 on a priority basis in highly accident-prone areas, congested  routes  and  level  crossings  and  to  provide  training  to  the concerned staff and if so, the details thereof?

## 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 (SIL-4).
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.
3. 5.
4. Implementation of Kavach System involves following Key Activities:
- a. Installation  of  Station  Kavach  at  each  and  every  station,  block section.
6. b.
7. c.
8. Installation of RFID Tags throughout the track length.
9. Installation of telecom Towers throughout the section.
- d. 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  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  1452  Route  Kilometres,  covering  the high density Delhi- Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes as below:
10. Further, track side Kavach implementation work has been taken up on 24,427 RKM covering all GQ,GD,HDN and identified sections of Indian Railways.
11. Progress  of  key  items  of  Kavach  on  High  density  routes  including Delhi-  Mumbai  &  Delhi-  Howrah  corridors  as  on  14.03.2026  are  as under:
12. The  sections  mentioned  above  also  includes  sections  which  pass through Gonda District.
13. In  addition,  work  for  installation  of  Kavach  in  8979  Locomotives  and 1200 EMU/MEMU has been taken up.
14. 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 55,000 technicians, operators and engineers have been trained on Kavach technology. This includes  about  47,500  Loco  Pilots  &  Assistant  Loco  Pilots.  Courses have been designed in collaboration with IRISET.
15. The  cost  for  provision  of  Track  Side  including  Station  equipment  of Kavach  is  approximately  Rs.  50  Lakhs/Km  and  cost  for  provision  of
22. Kavach equipment on locomotives is approximately Rs. 80 Lakh/Loco.
16. The funds utilized on Kavach works so far up to Feb'26 is Rs. 2,763.90 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
24. works.

| SN   | Section                                          | Progress (Route Km)   |
|------|--------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| (1)  | Delhi-Mumbai route:                              | Delhi-Mumbai route:   |
| i    | Junction cabin - Palwal - Mathura -Nagda section | 667                   |
| ii   | Vadodara - Ahmedabad section                     | 96                    |
| iii  | Vadodara - Virar section                         | 336                   |
| (2)  | Delhi - Howrah route:                            | Delhi - Howrah route: |
| i    | Gaya Sarmatanr section                           | 93                    |
| ii   | Chota Ambana - Bardhaman - Howrah section        | 260                   |

| SN   | Item                                 | Progress    |
|------|--------------------------------------|-------------|
| i    | Laying of Optical Fibre Cable        | 8570 Km     |
| ii   | Installation of Telecom Towers       | 1100 nos    |
| iii  | Station Data Centre                  | 767 Station |
| iv   | Installation of Track side equipment | 6776 RKm    |
| v    | Provision of Kavach in Loco          | 4211 nos    |

## Technological Improvements:

Technological  improvement  in  Indian  Railways  (IR)  is  a  continuous process.  Some  major  technologies  deployed/piloted  over  IR  are  as follows:

Machine Vision Inspection System (MVIS): MVIS is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)/ Machine Learning (ML) based system which generates alert on detecting any hanging, loose or missing components of moving trains.

Three (03) MVIS have been installed in Northeast Frontier Railway, two (02) in Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) and  one  (01)  in  South  East  Central  Railway  on  pilot  basis  for  freight stock. Further, a MoU has been signed between IR and DFCCIL to induct four (04) MVIS over IR network for freight stock.

Also, Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has taken up development  of  MVIS  for  rolling  stock  in  collaboration  with  industry through an Expression of Interest (EoI).

Wheel  Impact  Load  Detector  (WILD):  WILD  is  a  way-side  inspection system  that  measures  the  impact  of  wheel  on  track  to  identify  the defective wheel in Rolling Stock. 24 such systems are installed over IR.

Online Monitoring of Rolling Stock (OMRS): OMRS  is a way-side inspection  system  which  monitors  the  health  of  bearing  &  wheel  of Rolling  Stock. 25  such  systems  are  installed  over  IR  out  of  which  one (01) OMRS is installed at Sirpur Kaghaz nagar /Secunderabad Division in South Central Railway.

Integrated  Track  Monitoring  Systems  (ITMS):  ITMS  are  deployed  for comprehensive inspection and monitoring of Railway tracks. The ITMS utilizes  machine  learning  and  image  processing  to  monitor  and  detect defects  in  railway  track  components  such  as  rails,  sleepers,  and fastenings.  The  data  from  ITMS  is  analysed  for  urgent  and  planned maintenance of track. Presently three (03) ITMS are deployed for track recording and monitoring of IR track. It helps in better track maintenance  planning,  enhanced  safety,  improved  reliability  of  track assets and operational efficiency.

Intrusion  Detection  System  (IDS):  Artificial  Intelligence  (AI)  enabled Intrusion  Detection  System  (IDS)  using  Distributed  Acoustic  System (DAS)  is  implemented  in  141  RKms  section  of  Northeast  Frontier Railway  for  detecting  presence  of  elephants  on  Railway  tracks.  The system is designed to generate alerts for loco pilots, station masters and  Control  Room  about  the  movement  of  elephants  in  proximity  of railway tracks, for taking preventive action timely.

Drone based monitoring of Overhead Equipment: Drone based monitoring with thermal imaging of Overhead Equipment (OHE) has been taken up in Raipur division on pilot basis. Further, IR in association with IIT Madras, has  taken  up  development  of  a  Drone  based  aerial  inspection  of Overhead  Equipment  (OHE)  which  will  also  analyse  the  captured  data using AI/ML.

TRI-Netra:  RDSO  has  taken  up  development  of  TRI-Netra  (Terrain Imaging for Locomotive Drivers - Infra-Red, Enhanced Optical & Ranging Device  Assisted)  for  assisting  the  Loco  pilots  during  foggy,  rainy  and inclement weather. This system comprises of optical camera, infra-red camera and ranging devices (e.g. Radar/Lidar) & Al to create a real-time, enhanced vision system for assisting Loco pilots.

Rail Madad and Passenger Reservation System: For improving operational  efficiency,  AI/ML  models  have  been  implemented  in  the areas  of  passenger  services  (Rail  Madad  and  Passenger  Reservation System), freight operations  (prediction  of  estimated  time  of  arrival  of freight trains), and prediction of unloading/loading time.

Pilot initiatives involving Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) driven predictive maintenance of Signalling system is being undertaken over  Indian  Railways.    At  some  of  the  stations  it  has  been  used  to evaluate efficacy of maintenance. Measurable outcome includes limited Prediction Logics and Alerts mechanism.

Automatic Wheel Profile Measurement System (AWPMS): A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between IR and Delhi Metro  Rail  Corporation  to  induct  4  numbers  of    AWPMS.  The  AWPMS allows  for  automatic  non-contact  measurement  of  train  wheel  profile ensuring  real-time  measurement  of  wheel  geometry  and  wear.  The locations identified for installation of these 4 systems are as follows:

- a. Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Coaching Depot over Mumbai Division of Central Railway
- b. Anand  Vihar  Terminal  Coaching  Depot  over  Delhi  Division  of Northern Railway
- c. Near TughlakabadWagon Depot over Delhi Division of Northern Railway
- d. Near  Pandit  Deen  Dayal  Upadhyay  Wagon  Depot  over  Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Division of East Central Railway

Centre for Railway Information Systems has signed a Memorandum of Understanding  with  Digital  India  Bhashini  Division  for  auto  language translation for handling of user complaints in any of the 13 scheduled languages.

Centre for Railway Information Systems has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Institute of Technology Delhi for enhancing efficiencies in the area of train operations.

Centre for Railway Information Systems has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indian Institute of Technology Mumbai for adoption of generative AI in transportation and related sectors.

## Training / Skill Development:

Indian Railways have taken several measures to enhance work productivity, motivation and professional competencies of railway employees through structured capacity building and advanced training. Capacity building and skill upgradation are continuous and institutionalised  processes  supported  by  a  well-established  training framework across Indian Railways.

Indian  Railways  have  developed  a  comprehensive  training  ecosystem providing training interventions at various stages of the career to ensure skilling,  re-skilling  and  up-skilling  of  employees.  For  this  purpose, extensive  training  infrastructure  has  been  created  in  the  form  of Centralised  Training  Institutes  (CTIs),  Multi-disciplinary  Zonal  Training Institutes (MDZTIs), Multi-disciplinary Divisional Training Institutes (MDDTIs)  and  specialised  training  centres,  which  conduct  induction, refresher,  promotional  and  technical  training  programmes  at  different stages of service.

Training modules are designed to strengthen employees' competencies and  equip  railway personnel  with  the  skills required for  modern, technology-intensive railway operations. These modules are also periodically updated to incorporate new technologies in railway operations and maintenance.

Specialised  initiatives  such  as  the  Centre  of  Excellence  on  Kavach  at IRISET,  courses  on  emerging  technologies  (including  Data  Science,  AI applications, Big Data Analytics, Block chain, and Cloud Computing, etc.) in collaboration with C-DAC, and Mission Rail Karmayogi for behavioural and  service-orientation  training  of  frontline  staff  further  contribute  to improving productivity and efficiency. Employees are also encouraged to undertake  online  learning  through  digital  platforms  such  as  the  iGOT Karmayogi portal for continuous up-skilling and re-skilling.

In addition, motivational and wellness initiatives, including yoga sessions, physical fitness activities and stress-management programmes  during training and at workplaces, are promoted  to enhance employee well-being and morale.

**********