Central Railway achieved a significant milestone in its mission to enhance safety across its network, as the 50th locomotive equipped with the indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, KAVACH, was ceremoniously flagged off recently at the Electric Loco Shed in Kalyan.
“This marks a significant step forward in our commitment to implementing advanced technology for safer and more efficient train operations,” said an official. “The KAVACH system represents a leap in safety innovation, and its rollout across our fleet is progressing steadily.”
As part of Indian Railways’ mission-mode initiative to modernize and automate safety systems, KAVACH is being installed in 730 locomotives across Central Railway in the first phase. The work is being executed in partnership with four technology firms: HBL (170 locos), Kernex (278), Quadrant (276), and GG Tronics (6). Installation activities are underway at various loco sheds, including Kalyan, Bhusawal, and Ajni.
“The WAP-7 locomotive (37335), the 50th to be fitted with KAVACH, was flagged off by Dharam Veer Meena, General Manager, Central Railway, recently. The event was attended by Hiresh Meena, Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai Division; Anoop Kumar Agarwal, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer; M.S. Uppal, Principal Chief Signal & Telecommunication Engineer; along with other senior officials,” the official further added.
KAVACH is a cutting-edge, indigenous ATP system designed to prevent Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), overspeeding, and collisions. It facilitates real-time communication between onboard units and trackside equipment via radio link, ensuring the enforcement of movement authority and speed restrictions — thereby significantly enhancing safety and operational efficiency.
Western Railway Leads in Kavach Deployment
Meanwhile, Western Railway (WR) continues to lead among all zones in the installation of Kavach. Speaking to this correspondent, a senior WR officer said:
"There are a total of 850 locomotives in Western Railway. So far, 118 locomotives have already been fitted with Kavach. Installation for the remaining is underway and is expected to be completed by December 2025. Western Railway is number one in Indian Railways in terms of Kavach installation. All tenders have been allotted, and execution is progressing at a steady pace. Apart from static installations, trials have also been conducted successfully in multiple sections."
