North Eastern Railway commissions its first Kavach equipped section
The North Eastern Railway has achieved a major safety milestone by commissioning its first section equipped with the indigenous Kavach Automatic Train Protection system. This crucial safety upgrade spans the 110-kilometer route between Domingarh and Swaminarayan Chhapia, marking a significant leap forward in modernizing train operations across the network. Passengers and rail enthusiasts can look forward to enhanced safety measures as Indian Railways rapidly expands this anti-collision technology across key routes.
Key highlights of the newly commissioned Kavach section include:
- Successful finalization of the 110-kilometer Domingarh to Swaminarayan Chhapia route on August 31, 2026.
- Activation of a 101.97 route kilometer segment under the Lucknow division.
- Successful trial run conducted on August 27, 2026, between Domingarh and Jagatbela using two Kavach-equipped locomotives.
- Sanction of ₹787.21 crore by the Ministry of Railways for 2,101 route kilometers within the North Eastern Railway zone.
Expansion and Future Safety Plans
Pankaj Kumar Singh, Chief Public Relations Officer of the North Eastern Railway, emphasized that passenger safety remains the highest priority for the railway administration. Following the successful deployment, expansion efforts are already underway on other important routes. Installation work is currently active on the Chhapra to Barabanki and Sitapur to Budhwal sections, where tender processes have successfully concluded and on-site operations such as cable laying and tower installation are moving forward rapidly.
Understanding the Kavach Technology
Adopted as the National Automatic Train Protection System by the Ministry of Railways in July 2020, Kavach has evolved significantly. The Research Design and Standards Organisation approved Kavach Version 4.0 in July 2024, bringing advanced operational enhancements designed to prevent Signal Passed at Danger incidents and potential train collisions. Developed in collaboration with leading Indian manufacturers including Medha Servo Drives, Kernex Microsystems, and HBL Power Systems, the system ensures continuous in-cab signaling, real-time speed regulation, and automatic brake application when a train approaches a restricted signal at unsafe speeds.