The North Eastern Railway (NER) is preparing for a major safety overhaul as the Railway Board has allocated 213 ‘Kavach’ systems for its locomotives. According to official plans, the installation of this automatic train protection technology will formally begin on April 1, 2026. This initiative aims to prevent train collisions and ensure smoother operations across busy rail sections of the zone.
Route distribution and financial allocation
The Ministry of Railways has approved a budget of 492.21 crore rupees to cover 1,441 route kilometers under the Kavach safety network. Specifically for the engines, Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has sanctioned 123.95 crore rupees for 136 locomotives. The systems have been distributed among major loco sheds to ensure wide coverage across the zone as per the following data:
| Loco Shed Name | Allocated Kavach Systems |
|---|---|
| Gonda Loco Shed | 95 |
| Gorakhpur Loco Shed | 60 |
| Saidpur Loco Shed | 58 |
Current progress and upcoming trials
The implementation process is already visible on the ground, with the Sitapur-Budhwal section selected for the initial phase of installation. Between Barabanki and Chhapra, covering about 438 km, tower installation is moving at a fast pace. So far, 20 towers have been set up between Gorakhpur and Basti to facilitate the network. CPRO Pankaj Kumar Singh stated that the tender process for major routes is complete, and cable laying has started. Officials expect the trial runs for the Kavach system on the Barabanki-Chhapra route to begin within the next six months.