- Made-in-India Automatic Train Protection System Commissioned on Bajwa–Ahmedabad Section
- Over 2,200 Route Kilometres Now Secured Under Kavach Network
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, DEC 30
Reinforcing Indian Railways’ commitment to world-class safety through indigenous technology, Kavach 4.0, the latest version of the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, has been commissioned on Gujarat’s Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad section, covering a stretch of 96 kilometres. This marks the first deployment of Kavach 4.0 in Gujarat.
The project spans 17 stations and is supported by a robust safety infrastructure, including 23 communication towers, 20 Kavach buildings and huts, 192 km of optical fibre cable, and the installation of 2,872 RFID tags along the route.
First Kavach-Enabled Train Operates Successfully
The Sankalp Fast Passenger (59549/59550) became the maiden train to operate on the Kavach-enabled section, hauled by WAP-7 locomotives with 11 LHB coaches, validating the operational readiness of Kavach 4.0 on this busy rail corridor.
With this commissioning, Kavach is now operational across more than 2,200 route kilometres, significantly strengthening safety mechanisms across Indian Railways.
Advanced Protection Against Human Error and Collisions
Kavach 4.0 is designed to automatically mitigate safety risks by preventing consequences arising from Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD). It enforces automatic speed control, including sectional speed supervision, loop line monitoring and Permanent Speed Restriction (PSR) compliance, while also providing protection against head-on and rear-end collisions.
Additional safety features include an SOS facility and automatic whistling at level crossing gates, further enhancing operational safety, even during adverse weather conditions.
Indigenous, SIL-4 Certified and Built for High-Density Networks
Kavach is an indigenously developed ATP system of Indian Railways, certified to Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) — among the highest global standards in railway signalling safety. The system assists Loco Pilots by automatically applying brakes whenever prescribed speed limits are exceeded or when operational safety is compromised.
Continuous improvements, based on operational experience and independent safety assessments, led to the approval of Kavach Version 4.0 by RDSO, making it suitable for India’s diverse, high-density rail network.
Technological Leap in Kavach 4.0
Kavach 4.0 introduces several major enhancements, including:
- Improved location accuracy for precise train positioning
- Enhanced signal aspect visibility in large and complex station yards
- Station-to-station Kavach interface through optical fibre cable for faster and more reliable communication
- Direct integration with electronic interlocking systems, enabling seamless coordination with existing signalling infrastructure
These upgrades make the system more robust, responsive and scalable, and Kavach 4.0 has also been certified to meet global safety standards by an Independent Safety Assessor (ISA).
Safer, Smarter Railways for the Nation
The commissioning of Kavach 4.0 on the Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad section underscores Indian Railways’ sustained focus on deploying home-grown safety technologies, strengthening passenger safety, improving operational reliability, and advancing the vision of a safer and smarter rail network for India.
