Completion of anti-collision system Kavach in Delhi-Kolkata and Delhi-Mumbai corridors expected in 2024-25.

Delhi-Kolkata and Delhi-Mumbai railway corridors are set to have the anti-collision system KAVACH completed by the fiscal year 2024-2025, according to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The project for the indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, KAVATCH, received approval for implementation back in 2016.

The KAVACH system is technology-intensive and assists the loco pilot in the train by applying automatic brakes in case of failure to do so and ensures safe train operation during inclement weather. The Next Generation KAVATCH with 4G/5G-based systems is also in the works, and the tender for this advanced technology is expected to be announced next month.

The government has set an ambitious goal of covering 2,500 kilometers per year, with a projected leap to 5,000 kilometers per year in 2025-2026. The necessity of an anti-collision system was highlighted following a tragic triple-train accident in Odisha’s Balasore, which resulted in numerous casualties and injuries.

Furthermore, the railway has also launched new technology in elephant corridors to reduce elephant deaths caused by trains. The pilot project has been successfully tested on a 150-kilometer stretch in Assam, and is set to be installed in 700 kilometers of elephant-prone areas in the upcoming months, with an estimated project cost of Rs 181 crore. This initiative is expected to benefit several states including Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, and Tamil Nadu.