Indian Railways is accelerating the implementation of its advanced safety system, Kavach 4.0, across 10,000 locomotives and over 14,375 Route Kilometres (RKM) of its network. This automatic train protection system aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of train operations nationwide.
To achieve this, tenders for installation on 14,735 RKM have been invited, with bids for 1,105 RKM already opened. The remaining bids are expected to be finalised by the end of November 2024. In addition, tenders for equipping 10,000 locomotives with Kavach 4.0 are under financial evaluation. Indian Railways has also announced plans to replace the lower versions of Kavach currently in use with this upgraded system.
In the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) zone, approximately 1,966 RKM, spanning from Malda Town to Dibrugarh, has been earmarked for the deployment of Kavach. This effort is part of a broader initiative for 2024-25, which involves installing the safety system across more than 30,000 RKM nationwide. Looking ahead, Indian Railways plans to invite bids for an additional 17,000 RKM in 2025-26, with up to 30,000 RKM slated for installation between 2026 and 2028.
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Kavach 4.0, approved by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation in July 2024, has already undergone successful trials on the 108-kilometre Kota-Sawai Madhopur stretch of the West Central Railway. Trials are also in progress on the 84-kilometre Ahmedabad-Vadodara section in the Western Railway zone. Indian Railways aims to roll out the system across all major routes by 2030, making rail travel significantly safer for passengers.
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