Indian Railways is speeding up the rollout of the Kavach safety system to make train travel safer. The Ministry of Railways announced that 1,478 route kilometres (RKM) have been sanctioned for this technology across key sections of Northern Railway. This move aims to reduce accidents and improve the overall efficiency of train operations.
Where will Kavach be installed in Northern Railway?
The deployment will focus on the Firozpur and Jammu divisions to ensure better safety. The breakdown of the work is as follows:
| Division | Route Distance | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Firozpur Division | 1,012 RKM | ₹241 crore |
| Jammu Division | 466 RKM | ₹121 crore |
In the Jammu Division, the system will cover sections like Jalandhar City Junction-Jammu Tawi-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, Batala Junction-Pathankot Junction, and Banihal-Baramulla. The project includes installing stationary Kavach systems and 40-meter communication towers.
What are the other major safety investments?
The government approved a total of ₹1,364.45 crore for various safety and communication projects across different railway zones. These updates will support the Kavach rollout and modernize old systems.
- Southern Railway: Kavach Version 4.0 will be installed on 232 locomotives at a cost of ₹208.81 crore.
- North Central Railway: A new fibre optic network will be laid over 2,196 RKM costing ₹176.76 crore.
- South Central Railway: ₹578.02 crore is allocated to replace old panel interlocking with electronic interlocking at 49 stations.
- Northern Railway Infrastructure: ₹400.86 crore will be spent on communication upgrades across Ambala, Delhi, and Lucknow divisions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Kavach and who developed it?
Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed by the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) under the Make in India initiative.
How much money is being spent on Northern Railway’s Kavach expansion?
Approximately ₹362 crore has been sanctioned for the expansion of Kavach across 1,478 RKM in the Firozpur and Jammu divisions.