North Central Railway has achieved a major milestone by installing the advanced Kavach version 4.0 on the Chhipiyana Buzurg-Tundla section. This is the first time in Indian Railway history that this system has been deployed to support an operational speed of 160 kmph. The project was commissioned on June 3, 2026, to enhance safety and speed on this high-traffic route.
What are the key technical details of the project?
The project covers a 175 route kilometer stretch between Chhipiyana Buzurg and Tundla. To make the system work, the railway team installed over 4,500 RFID tags on the tracks and 9 new 40-meter high towers for better communication. They also laid a 48-core fiber optic cable network. The system was integrated with Hitachi electronic interlocking using protocol converters for the first time.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Operational Speed | 160 kmph |
| Total Section Length | 175 route km |
| RFID Tags | 4,500+ tags |
| Station TCAS Units | 22 units |
| Level Crossing TCAS | 9 units |
| Equipped Locomotives | 10 WAP-7 engines |
How was the safety and speed tested?
The system underwent rigorous testing by RDSO and the independent agency Italcertifier. The Kanpur Shatabdi Express (Train 12033/12034) was used for these trials. The team completed more than 10,000 kilometers of failure-free test runs. They also tested 180+ Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD) preventions and conducted head-on and rear-end collision prevention trials to ensure passenger safety.
What is the impact on North Central Railway?
General Manager Naresh Pal Singh described this as a revolutionary step toward Mission Raftaar. With this new installation, the total Kavach version 4.0 network in North Central Railway has increased to 445 route kilometers. This makes the Chhipiyana Buzurg-Tundla section the only part of the Indian Railway network where the Kernex-built Kavach 4.0 is fully operational at 160 kmph.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the speed limit for trains on the Chhipiyana Buzurg-Tundla section with Kavach 4.0?
The section has been equipped with Kavach version 4.0 to allow trains to operate at a high speed of 160 kmph safely.
Which trains were used to test the Kavach 4.0 system?
The Kanpur Shatabdi Express (Train numbers 12033 up and 12034 down) was used for the testing and commissioning of the system.