Par Panel seeks deadline for nationwide rollout of rail safety system ‘Kavach’

Railway safety has once again come under scrutiny, with a parliamentary panel asking the Railway Ministry to provide a clear timeline for the nationwide implementation of the automatic train protection system Kavach .

In its latest report on derailments in Indian Railways, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) noted that the ministry has not specified when 100 per cent implementation of the system will be achieved across the network.

Kavach is an indigenous technology designed to prevent train collisions caused by human error. The system can automatically apply brakes if a train driver fails to respond to signals or attempts to cross a signal at danger. It can also control overspeeding and help maintain safe distance between trains, making it a key safety upgrade for Indian Railways.

According to railway data, over 2,000 km of railway routes have already been equipped with Kavach, largely on high-density corridors. Several locomotives have also been fitted with the system, while installation work continues on busy routes carrying heavy passenger and freight traffic.

The Railways has prioritised the Golden Quadrilateral network and major corridors such as Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah in the first phase. The broader plan is to deploy the system across around 18,000 km of important railway routes .

However, implementing Kavach across such a vast network involves several constraints. The system requires laying optical fibre cables, installing telecom towers, upgrading signalling systems, and equipping locomotives with onboard devices . Each section also undergoes extensive testing before being commissioned.

Training of loco pilots and technical staff is another important step, as the system must integrate smoothly with existing railway operations. Much of the work also has to be carried out without disrupting train movement on one of the world’s busiest rail networks.

The PAC has now asked the ministry to provide detailed updates on the timeline for full implementation , stressing that faster deployment of Kavach would significantly strengthen railway safety and help reduce accidents.