Kavach Anti-Collision Device Receives Rs 557 Crore Boost in Interim Budget 2024-25

In a significant move to enhance railway safety, the Indian government has allocated more than Rs 557 crore in the interim Budget 2024-25 for the installation of the indigenous anti-collision device, Kavach. This announcement was made by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in response to questions raised in the Rajya Sabha by Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan.

Representative image

Addressing Concerns about Funding

Responding to concerns about fund allocation for Kavach, Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that there are no financial constraints hindering the installation of this crucial safety system. He highlighted that Kavach is a highly technology-intensive system that requires the highest level of safety certification, which is a key factor in its implementation.

Progress and Implementation Status

Providing an update on the progress of Kavach installation, the minister informed that the system has been deployed on 1,465 route kilometers and 139 locomotives, including Electric Multiple Unit rakes on South Central Railway. He also mentioned that tenders have been awarded for the installation of Kavach on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors, covering approximately 3,000 route kilometers.

Infrastructure Development

Elaborating on the infrastructure development for Kavach, Vaishnaw stated that optical fiber cable has been laid on 3,040 kilometers, and 269 telecom towers have been installed. Additionally, 186 equipment at stations and 170 equipment in locomotives have been placed, while track-side equipment has been installed on 827 route kilometers.

System Overview and Implementation Challenges

Providing details about the Kavach system, the minister explained that it involves the installation of Station Kavach at every station, RFID tags throughout the track length, and Loco Kavach on each locomotive running on Indian Railways. It also requires a communication backbone with towers and optical fiber laid throughout the section.

Acknowledging the challenges in implementation, Vaishnaw mentioned that Kavach is being provided progressively, and there are currently three Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) approved for the system. He emphasized that efforts are ongoing to develop more OEMs to enhance capacity and scale up implementation.

The allocation of over Rs 557 crore for Kavach in the interim Budget 2024-25 demonstrates the government's commitment to enhancing railway safety and preventing accidents. With the ongoing progress in infrastructure development and the involvement of multiple OEMs, the implementation of Kavach is expected to significantly improve the safety of passengers and railway operations across India.