- Indian Railways sanctions indigenous Automatic Train Protection system across the remaining 598 route kilometres of Ahmedabad Division, taking the entire network closer to complete Kavach coverage
- Simultaneously, Ambala Division secures a ₹201-crore Kavach upgrade covering 811 route kilometres across strategic rail corridors linking Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh
- LTE-based communication backbone and advanced automation to prevent Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), regulate train speeds and dramatically strengthen passenger safety
- Twin approvals reinforce Indian Railways’ nationwide mission to modernise operations, reduce collision risks and build a smarter, technology-driven rail network
NE INFRASTRUCTURE BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JUNE 15
In a major boost to railway safety and technological modernisation, Indian Railways has approved a ₹140-crore Kavach project for the Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway, bringing the Gujarat division significantly closer to becoming a fully protected railway network under India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
The newly sanctioned project will facilitate the installation of Kavach Version 4.0 across 598 route kilometres covering 48 block sections, completing the remaining balance sections of the Ahmedabad Division under the national safety initiative.
The approval comes after Kavach implementation had already been sanctioned over approximately 702 route kilometres in the division. With the latest clearance, virtually the entire Ahmedabad Division is set to be covered under the advanced train protection technology, making it one of the country’s most comprehensively protected railway networks.
The project has been approved under the umbrella programme for the provision of Kavach with an LTE-based communication backbone across the balance routes of Indian Railways.
In another significant development, Indian Railways has also sanctioned a ₹201-crore Kavach project for the Ambala Division of Northern Railway, covering 811 route kilometres across several strategically important Broad Gauge sections.
The approved network includes major corridors such as Ambala Cantonment-Ludhiana, Kalka-Chandigarh-New Morinda-Sahnewal, Sirhind-Daulatpur Chowk, Rajpura-Bathinda-Shri Ganganagar and Ludhiana-Dhuri-Jakhal, strengthening rail safety across Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
These high-density routes serve as critical passenger and freight corridors, playing a vital role in regional economic activity and interstate connectivity.
At the heart of both projects is Kavach, India’s indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, designed to significantly enhance operational safety and minimise human error.
The technology helps prevent Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), automatically applies brakes in unsafe situations, regulates train speed under critical operating conditions and substantially reduces the possibility of train collisions.
The LTE-enabled communication architecture further strengthens real-time interaction between locomotives and signalling infrastructure, enabling faster response and improved operational efficiency.
The twin approvals underline Indian Railways’ sustained commitment to deploying cutting-edge indigenous technology across its vast network, improving safety, reliability and capacity on strategically important corridors.
With Ahmedabad nearing complete Kavach integration and Ambala embarking on a comprehensive safety upgrade, Indian Railways is steadily moving towards a future where intelligent automation and indigenous innovation redefine rail travel across the country.
