Kavach System Latest News
Recently, the Union Railway Minister, in a written reply during the Winter Session of Parliament, informed the Lok Sabha that the indigenously developed Kavach system has been fully commissioned on over 2,000 km of the Indian Rail network, with the rollout progressing at a very fast pace.
About Kavach System
- Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to enhance railway operational safety.
- It has been developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) under Indian Railways (IR) in collaboration with Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd, HBL Power Systems Ltd, and Kernex Microsystems.
- Kavach is a highly complex digital safety ecosystem consisting of five major integrated components, including continuous Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) laid along tracks and telecom towers for uninterrupted communication.
- The system uses a combination of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) installed in locomotives, signalling systems, and railway tracks, which communicate using ultra-high radio frequencies.
- Based on pre-programmed safety logic, Kavach can alert loco pilots, automatically apply brakes, and prevent unsafe train movements.
- Field trials have been ongoing since 2016 on passenger trains before large-scale deployment.
- As of December 2025, Indian Railways has:
- Laid 7,129 km of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC)
- Installed 860 telecom towers
- Connected 767 railway stations to data centres
Deployed trackside equipment along 3,413 km - Equipped 4,154 locomotives with Kavach
- Around 40,000 technicians and operators have been trained, highlighting the technological sophistication of the system.
- Consequential railway accidents have reduced by nearly 90%, declining from 135 incidents in 2014 to about 11 currently, indicating tangible safety outcomes.
Source: TH
Kavach System FAQs
Q1: Is Kavach an indigenous system?
Ans: Yes, it is a fully indigenous ATP system developed by RDSO and Indian industry partners.
Q2: Which safety risks does Kavach primarily address?
Ans: It targets SPAD, overspeeding, collisions, and human error.
Q3: Does Kavach replace the loco pilot?
Ans: No, it assists the loco pilot and intervenes only when safety is compromised.
Q4: Is Kavach operational nationwide?
Ans: No, it is being phased and prioritised on high-density and high-risk routes, with over 2,000 km commissioned so far.
