Kavach system installation on Mumbai-Delhi-Kolkata route jumps deadline again, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The Indian Railways aims to operationalize the Kavach automatic train protection system on the Mumbai-Delhi-Kolkata routes by 2026, after missing the December 2025 deadline.
• Approximately 25% of the Kavach installation work on these routes is commissioned and ready for use.
• Kavach Version 4.0 has been successfully commissioned on 738 route km, including the Palwal-Mathura-Nagda and Howrah-Bardhaman sections.
• Optical fiber cable has been laid along 7,129 km with 800 telecom towers installed for the Kavach system.

Detailed Insights:

• The Kavach system is an indigenously developed technology designed to automatically apply brakes when a loco pilot fails to maintain specified speed limits, enhancing railway safety.
• The Ministry of Railways initially set the completion target for Kavach installation on the Mumbai-Delhi-Kolkata routes for March 2025, later extending it to December 2025.
• As of December 17, 2025, Station Kavach has been installed at 860 stations, track-side equipment on 5,672 route km, and Loco Kavach on 4,154 locomotives.
• Delays in the Kavach implementation highlight the challenges of deploying a highly technology-intensive system across a vast railway network.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Kavach: An automatic train protection system developed in India to enhance railway safety by preventing collisions.
• Loco Pilot: The train driver responsible for operating and controlling the train's movement.
• Optical Fiber Cable: A network of cables used for high-speed data transmission, essential for the communication components of Kavach.