East Coast Railway Embarks on Major Safety Upgrade with Kavach Installation on Howrah-Chennai Main Line

By Kalinga Voice Last updated Nov 15, 2024

Bhubaneswar : East Coast Railway (ECoR) has initiated a major safety enhancement project by planning the installation of the advanced Kavach system between Ranital (Bhadrak) in Odisha and Duvvada (Visakhapatnam) in Andhra Pradesh, a vital section of the Howrah-Chennai Main Line covering a distance of 595 KMs. Tender has been notified for the survey, design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of Kavach equipment, as well as other associated works, with an estimated value of ₹280 crore, approx.

The installation of Kavach, the indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System, is a top priority set by Hon’ble Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw to enhance safety on busy and critical rail corridors. A detailed estimation is underway for installing Kavach in the remaining sections of ECoR. To enhance safety, ECoR is also focusing on modern signalling and interlocking systems to minimize human error.

Kavach, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System, is designed to prevent train collisions and ensure enhanced Operational Safety. Once installed, it will offer Automatic Braking, Speed Regulation, and will help avoid Human Errors, especially in emergency situations. The project will include installing equipment on tracks, Level Crossing (LC) Gates, and at Stations along the designated section, with separate towers for the system being erected at a later phase.

Upon completion of the infrastructure setup, Kavach devices will be integrated into trains operating on this busy corridor, ensuring real-time communication between Trains, Stations and Control Centers, thus minimizing the risk of accidents. This move is in line with Indian Railways’ commitment to modernizing its infrastructure, improving passenger safety and increasing operational efficiency.

The successful implementation of the Kavach system on this critical section of the Howrah-Chennai Main Line will set a benchmark for safety and technology-driven rail operations, significantly reducing the likelihood of Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD) and Head-On Collisions, creating a safer travel experience for passengers.

History of KAVACH:

Signalling and Kavach

Development Chronology

In Feb 2012, Kakodkar Committee recommended: Digital Radio Based Signaling and protection system, equivalent to ETCS L-2 and deployed throughout IR
TCAS now “Kavach” was envisaged as an Indigenous, Multi vendor, Interoperable, Fail safe System.
2014-15: Installation on pilot project section of 250 Rkm on South Central Railway
2015-16: First field trials on passenger trains.
2017-18: Kavach Specification Version 3.2 finalized
2018-19: Three Vendors approved by RDSO based on SIL-4 certification by ISA.
July 2020 “Kavach” declared as a National ATP System
By Mar 2022: Kavach installed on another 1200 Rkm as an extended section.
In Mar 2022: Based on various use cases & feedback from various stakeholders decision taken to go for development of Kavach specifications version 4.0.
On 16.07.24 Kavach Ver 4.0 specification Approved by RDSO.
Indigenous Kavach System has been developed in short span of 10 years.
In Sep 2024: Kavach 4.0 installed and commissioned between Kota and Sawai Madhopur 108 km section.

○ Trial in 84 km of Ahmedabad – Vadodara section started

Meets Challenges of mixed traffic, speed differential, variety of Locos, Coaching & Wagon stocks on IR.

Proliferation: Loco Kavach & Track Side Works

Bids Invited by CLW for Locos: 10,000 Nos.

○ Bid opened on : 04.10.24. Financial Bid under evaluation. TDC-Nov.’24

Bids Invited for Track Side Kavach Works:

○ Delhi-Chennai & Mumbai- Chennai Section : 3375 RKm.

○ Automatic Block Sections (ABS) : 5715 RKm.

Total : 9090 RKm

○ Other Sections : 5645 RKm

Total Bids Invited : 14,735 RKm.
Bids Opened : 1,105 Rkm Balance Bids to be opened- Nov.’24

Kavach Roll Out Plan by 2030

Motive Power Units: Progressively to Cover all Units
Track Side Works:

○ Total Sanctioned Works : 36,000 Rkm

○ Umbrella Sanctioned in 24-25 : 30,000 RKm

○ Deployed : 1,548 RKm

○ Work in Progress : 3,000 RKm

○ Bids Invited : 14,735 Rkm

○ Bids Planned in 25-26 : 17,000 RKm

○ Bids Planned in 26-27, 27-28 : 30,000 RKm