Railway to deploy global 'Kavach' system in rail network

the automatic train collision avoidance system 'Kavach' on the Indian railways network

Global companies Siemens and Japan's Kyosan have received approval to deploy the automatic train collision avoidance system 'Kavach' on the Indian railways network. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a substantial increase in Kavach deployment to 5,000 km per year by FY26, a significant rise from the current 1,500 km annually. The Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah railway routes are set to be equipped with the anti-train collision system by March 2025, covering a total of 1,659 km presently, with an additional 500 km planned by March 2024. The goal over the next three years is to extend this safety measure to encompass at least 5,000 km of tracks, with bids for an additional 2,500 km expected to be awarded soon. Furthermore, the next generation of Kavach will incorporate long-term evolution (LTE), known as 4G and 5G technology, with tenders for upgrades and longer route deployments anticipated in the coming months. The recent approvals expand the list of firms capable of deploying Kavach, enhancing Indian Railways' capability in ensuring advanced collision avoidance systems.