Kavach Automatic Train Protection System Commissioned on 472 Kilometres of Indian Railways Network

The Indian Railways has successfully commissioned the Kavach automatic train protection system over 472.3 km, enhancing operational safety and reliability across its network. This milestone includes significant sections on Western, Northern, and East Central Railways.

The Railway Ministry announced the commissioning of the Kavach automatic train protection system over 472.3 route kilometres on three sections of its network. This achievement marks a significant step in enhancing rail safety. The newly commissioned sections include Vadodara-Virar on Western Railway, Tuglakabad Junction Cabin-Palwal on Northern Railway, and Manpur-Sarmatanr on East Central Railway.

With this development, Indian Railways is accelerating the deployment of the indigenous Kavach system to improve train protection and operational safety on high-density routes. The ministry highlighted that this commissioning represents the highest-ever route kilometres of Kavach commissioned in a single day and month, with 472.3 RKm now under Kavach Version 4.0.

Progress in Western Railway Zones

The work on the Vadodara-Surat-Virar section of the Delhi-Mumbai route began in January 2023. On 30 January 2026, Kavach was successfully commissioned on this 344-km stretch. Train No. 20907, Dadar-Bhuj Sayajinagri Express, became the first Kavach-equipped train to operate from Mumbai.

Officials noted that prior to this, the highest commissioning was 324 RKm on the Kota-Mathura section of West Central Railway. With the latest addition, Kavach Version 4.0 has now been implemented across five zones of Indian Railways.

Expansion Across Indian Railways

Following this inclusion, Kavach Version 4.0 has been commissioned over a total of 1,306.3 Route Kilometres across Indian Railways. Previously, it covered 834 Route Kilometres, including sections like Palwal-Mathura-Nagda and Howrah-Bardhaman.

The ministry also reported progress in Western Railway Zones, with work on the Vadodara-Nagda section advancing rapidly and expected to be completed by March 2026. The Virar-Mumbai Central section is also progressing well and is targeted for completion by September 2026.

Kavach Implementation in East Central Zone

The East Central Zone has seen significant progress with Kavach 4.0 implementation on the Manpur-Sarmatanr section of Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya division. Train No. 13305 Sasaram Intercity Express successfully operated with Kavach, departing Sone Nagar at 7:42 am and arriving at Manpur at 9:35 am.

A head-on collision test was conducted during this run, where the train automatically stopped, validating the system's effectiveness. Officials stated that Kavach is being installed over 4,235 Route Kilometres of East Central Railway, including a critical part of the Delhi-Howrah trunk route.

Locomotive Installation Advancements

Western Railway officials mentioned that installation on locomotives is progressing steadily in their zone, with 364 locomotives equipped with Kavach so far. This advancement underscores Indian Railways' commitment to enhancing safety and reliability across its network.

Kavach installation includes 417 Route Kilometres on the Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction-Manpur section, which passes through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. This effort highlights Indian Railways' dedication to improving safety measures across its extensive network.

With inputs from PTI