Mumbai Local Trains To Get Kavach 4.0: Main & Harbour Lines Set For Cutting-Edge Safety Upgrade

Central Railway's suburban section is set to receive the latest upgrade with the introduction of Kavach 4.0, covering both the Main and Harbour lines, according to Hindustan Times.

This advanced safety system will be implemented on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus routes, as well as on the Kasara, Karjat, and Panvel corridors. Approved by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in July this year, Kavach 4.0 represents a significant leap forward in train safety technology.

Photo Credit: PTI

Kavach 4.0 Installation Timeline & Cost

Central Railway (CR) officials have announced that tenders worth Rs 140 crore have been issued for the Mumbai section, covering the design, manufacturing, and supply of Kavach 4.0. Work is expected to begin within two months, with the system anticipated to be operational by early next year. The project will start with the suburban network in Mumbai, with future installations planned for locomotives and Vande Bharat trains.

Simultaneously, CR will initiate similar upgrades in the Pune and Solapur divisions. The total cost for the implementation across all three divisions is projected to be around Rs 350 crore.

About Kavach 4.0 system

The Kavach 4.0 system involves installing RFID tags at every station, laying optical fibre cables along the tracks, and setting up telecom towers. Each locomotive will be equipped with the new technology.

Kavach 4.0 is a major milestone in enhancing railway safety in India. As an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, it features advanced technology and requires stringent safety certification.

The system aids train operators by automatically applying brakes if the driver fails to adhere to speed limits and ensures safe train operations in adverse weather conditions. It significantly reduces the risk of train collisions in block sections and on running lines at stations.

Currently, Western Railway is implementing Kavach 3.2 on the Mumbai-Delhi corridor, an earlier version of the technology, in preparation for future semi-high-speed trains running at 160 kilometres per hour.