WR to get safer with Kavach tech

MUMBAI: The Indian Railways is set to install its most advanced technology on signalling, known as Kavach, in Mumbai, starting with the Mumbai Central-virar route on the Western Railway (WR). Tenders have been issued for the installation of Kavach, an upgraded version of the existing auxiliary warning system that exists on the Mumbai suburban rail network.

The Kavach system, developed indigenously, is designed to automatically apply brakes in situations of overspeeding or collisions, contributing to enhanced safety on the rail network. “We have called for tenders for installing Kavach technology on the Dahanu - Mumbai Central route. This will be installed on the Up and Down Fast corridor and lines 5-6 meant for long-distance trains,” said a senior WR official.

Authorities said the fast corridor caters to both local and longdistance trains, while the fifth and sixth lines primarily serve outstation trains. The installation of the completed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system of Kavach between Mumbai and Ratlam is expected to be concluded by June 2024.

In 2022, the WR awarded 3 separate contracts for the provision of this system, covering a total distance of 735 km with 90 locomotives. These contracts include stretches on the VirarSurat-vadodara, Vadodara-ahmedabad, and Vadodara-ratlam-nagda sections, with a completion date set for 2024.

Kavach, certified for top-tier safety integrity, aids Loco Pilots in averting Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD), controlling overspeeding, and ensuring safe operations, even in adverse weather. Operating on movement updates via Ultra High Frequency radio communication, it enhances safety . Trackside provision, including equipment, costs around ₹50 lakh/km, while outfitting Kavach equipment on locos amounts to approximately ₹70 lakh per locomotive.