Govt accelerates installation of Kavach Safety System on railway tracks
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Govt accelerates installation of Kavach Safety System on railway tracks

In response to recent train accidents, the Ministry of Railways has expedited the installation of the Kavach Automatic Train Protection system. Tenders have been issued for the deployment of the system across 9,600 km of railway tracks and for equipping 10,000 locomotives in the upcoming months.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing train accidents by addressing human error, enhancing track maintenance, and strengthening infrastructure.

The Kavach system, which has a Safety Integrity Level (SIL)-4 certification, has been successfully tested on 740 km of tracks, including segments in Mathura-Palwal, Mathura-Nagda, and Kota-Sawai Madhopur. The SIL-4 certification was granted on July 16 this year, following its design in 2016.

In 2021, Vaishnaw and the then Railway Board chairman tested Kavach by running two trains towards each other to validate the system. However, recent accidents have raised concerns about its effectiveness.

Vaishnaw highlighted that Kavach SIL-4 is cost-effective and comparable in efficiency to the European Train Control System. Initially designed as a replacement for a previously discontinued anti-collision device, Kavach aims to address the primary cause of train accidents—driver error, which accounts for about 80% of incidents. The remaining 20% stem from maintenance and infrastructure issues.

As of 2023, 40 train accidents have been reported, with 20 occurring in 2024 to date. The government is focused on reducing this rate further.

Cattle straying onto tracks is a significant accident contributor, with approximately 800 incidents occurring daily. The ministry plans to reduce this figure to 200 over the next few years. Fencing along railway tracks has been implemented, starting with the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route, where no cattle-related accidents have been reported since.

The government is also working to increase train speeds, with newer trains like Vande Bharat achieving averages of 130-140 km per hour, necessitating further fencing along additional routes.

In response to recent train accidents, the Ministry of Railways has expedited the installation of the Kavach Automatic Train Protection system. Tenders have been issued for the deployment of the system across 9,600 km of railway tracks and for equipping 10,000 locomotives in the upcoming months.Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined a comprehensive plan aimed at reducing train accidents by addressing human error, enhancing track maintenance, and strengthening infrastructure.The Kavach system, which has a Safety Integrity Level (SIL)-4 certification, has been successfully tested on 740 km of tracks, including segments in Mathura-Palwal, Mathura-Nagda, and Kota-Sawai Madhopur. The SIL-4 certification was granted on July 16 this year, following its design in 2016.In 2021, Vaishnaw and the then Railway Board chairman tested Kavach by running two trains towards each other to validate the system. However, recent accidents have raised concerns about its effectiveness.Vaishnaw highlighted that Kavach SIL-4 is cost-effective and comparable in efficiency to the European Train Control System. Initially designed as a replacement for a previously discontinued anti-collision device, Kavach aims to address the primary cause of train accidents—driver error, which accounts for about 80% of incidents. The remaining 20% stem from maintenance and infrastructure issues.As of 2023, 40 train accidents have been reported, with 20 occurring in 2024 to date. The government is focused on reducing this rate further.Cattle straying onto tracks is a significant accident contributor, with approximately 800 incidents occurring daily. The ministry plans to reduce this figure to 200 over the next few years. Fencing along railway tracks has been implemented, starting with the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route, where no cattle-related accidents have been reported since.The government is also working to increase train speeds, with newer trains like Vande Bharat achieving averages of 130-140 km per hour, necessitating further fencing along additional routes.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Macrotech acquires Bain Capital's stake in 3 entities for Rs 3 Bn

Realty firm Macrotech Developers has acquired Bain Capital's stake in three industrial and logistics park entities for Rs 3.07 billion as part of a strategy to enhance rental income. Macrotech Developers is one of the leading real estate firms in the country. It sells properties under Lodha brand. In a regulatory filing, the company informed that it has "executed Securities Purchase Agreements (SPAs) with India Opportunities Fund SSA Scheme 1 and DSS Opportunities Investment 1 (Bain Capital) for acquisition of their interest in the digital infrastructure platform entities (Bellissimo Digital I..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Tata Steel reports Rs 7.59 Bn net profit in Jul-Sep

Tata Steel reported a net profit of Rs 7.58 billion for the September 2024 quarter, helped by lower expenses. It had posted a net loss of Rs 65.11 billion in the July-September period of the preceding 2023-24 fiscal, the company said in an exchange filing. In a separate statement, Tata Steel CEO and MD TV Narendran said the global operating environment remained complex, with key regions facing subdued growth. Macroeconomic conditions in China continued to weigh on commodity prices, including steel. In India, steel demand continued to improve, but domestic prices were under pressure due to chea..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

SC to verdict on Nov 7 on plea against NCLAT

The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on a plea of State Bank of India (SBI) and other creditors challenging the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) decision that upheld the resolution plan of grounded air carrier Jet Airways and approved the transfer of its ownership to Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC). A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will pronounce the verdict which was reserved on October 16. The NCLAT had on March 12 upheld the resolution plan of the grounded air carrier and approved the transfer of its ownersh..

Hi There!

"Now get regular updates from CW Magazine on WhatsApp!

Join the CW WhatsApp channel for the latest news, industry events, expert insights, and project updates from the construction and infrastructure industry.

Click the link below to join"

+91 81086 03000