Indian Railways has accelerated the expansion of its indigenous Kavach 4.0 Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System by approving projects worth ₹743 crore across key railway zones. The initiative aims to further strengthen rail safety and modernize the country’s railway network through the large-scale deployment of the indigenous train protection technology.
₹362 Crore Kavach Project Approved for Firozpur and Jammu Divisions (1,478 Route km)
As part of its ongoing railway modernization and safety initiatives, Indian Railways has approved the expansion of the Kavach Automatic Train Protection System on important routes under the Northern Railway at an estimated cost of ₹362 crore. The project will cover approximately 1,478 route kilometres across the Firozpur and Jammu divisions.
Under the project, Kavach will be installed on the remaining 1,012 route kilometres in the Firozpur Division at an estimated cost of ₹241 crore.
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In the Jammu Division, the system will be installed across nearly 466 route kilometres, covering the following railway sections:
- Jalandhar City Junction – Jammu Tawi – Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra
- Batala Junction – Pathankot Junction
- Banihal – Baramulla
The estimated cost for the Jammu Division project is approximately ₹121 crore.
The project also includes the installation of trackside Kavach equipment, along with the development of 40-metre-high communication towers and antenna infrastructure to ensure seamless communication and efficient functioning of the safety system.
₹201 Crore Kavach Project Approved for Ambala Division (811 Route km)
Indian Railways has also approved the installation of the Kavach system on the remaining broad gauge railway sections of the Ambala Division under Northern Railway.
The project covers approximately 811 route kilometres and has been approved at a cost of ₹201 crore.
The work forms part of Indian Railways’ larger programme to deploy the system integrated with an LTE (Long-Term Evolution)-based communication network across the remaining railway routes.
The approved project includes several important railway corridors in the Ambala Division, including:
- Ambala Cantonment – Ludhiana
- Kalka – Chandigarh – New Morinda – Sahnewal
- Sirhind – Daulatpur Chowk
- Rajpura – Bathinda – Ganganagar
- Ludhiana – Dhuri – Jakhal
These railway routes serve as major transportation corridors connecting the states of Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. They handle significant passenger and freight traffic, playing a crucial role in regional connectivity and logistics.
₹140 Crore Project Approved for Ahmedabad Division (598 Route km)
Indian Railways has approved the fourth phase of the project for the Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway.
The project will cover approximately 598 route kilometres spread across 48 block sections at an estimated cost of ₹140 crore.
The approval has been granted under the broader programme to implement the system integrated with LTE-based communication technology across railway routes.
Earlier, Kavach installation had already been approved for nearly 702 route kilometres within the Ahmedabad Division. With the approval of the latest phase, the remaining railway sections of the division will also come under the Kavach network, enabling comprehensive deployment of the indigenous train safety system throughout the division.
How the Kavach System Improves Railway Safety
Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed to enhance railway safety by preventing train collisions.
The system automatically applies brakes during emergency situations, significantly reducing the risk of accidents caused by human error.
Kavach continuously enables communication between:
- The locomotive
- The signalling system
- Trackside equipment
This real-time communication assists locomotive pilots in operating trains safely and efficiently while improving overall railway safety.
Strengthening India’s Railway Modernisation Drive
The implementation of the Kavach system on these important railway routes will make train operations safer, more reliable, and more efficient.
Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Indian Railways is rapidly expanding the deployment of the indigenous Kavach technology across the country to create a safer, technologically advanced, and modern railway network.
The approval of ₹743 crore worth of Kavach projects marks another significant step towards strengthening railway safety infrastructure while accelerating the modernization of India’s rail transport system.
