Indian Railways' Kavach System Covers 2,000 Km; Installation Accelerates Safety Upgrades

Economic Times
Economic Times
14m ago
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Kavach, an indigenous train protection system, now covers 2,000 km, cutting rail accidents by 90% since 2014.
Indian Railways' Kavach System Covers 2,000 Km; Installation Accelerates Safety Upgrades
A What happened
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated Kavach's installation progress is very fast, with over 2,000 km commissioned, involving extensive OFC cable laying, telecom towers, and trackside and locomotive equipment. The system's deployment aims at covering 90% of the 78,000 km network and about 13,000 locomotives by 2030. Substantial technician training supports this large-scale technology integration. The deployment correlates with a steep reduction in rail accidents, demonstrating commitment to safer rail transport.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Infrastructure Complexity and Scale: Kavach integrates multiple subsystems such as optical fiber networks and telecom towers, reflecting a large-scale, high-technology upgrade in rail safety infrastructure.

  • 2

    Safety Outcome Improvements: The significant decrease in rail accidents indicates that automatic protection systems like Kavach materially enhance operational safety, shaping future rail industry standards.

  • 3

    Workforce Adaptation to New Technology: Training 40,000 technicians and operators highlights the human capital investment needed for successful deployment of advanced railway automation systems.

Takeaways

Kavach's rapid deployment exemplifies a transformational shift in Indian Railways' approach to safety and technology, underpinning long-term infrastructure resilience.

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