Kavach 2.0: Indian Railways Fast-Tracks Safety with ₹1,236 Cr Shield

Indian Railways has approved infrastructure projects worth approximately ₹1,236 crore to strengthen its communication network and accelerate the deployment of the Kavach automatic train protection system on key routes.

The approvals include three major initiatives: upgrades to optical fibre infrastructure in the Central and Western Railway zones, and the rollout of Kavach on high-traffic sections of Southern Railway.

A significant portion of the investment—₹623.63 crore—will be allocated to establishing a dual-path fibre communication system across Central Railway’s five divisions: Solapur, Nagpur, Pune, Bhusawal, and Mumbai. This includes the installation of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) with 96-fibre capacity along 2,250.68 km of existing 25 kV traction lines in Solapur, Nagpur, Pune, and Bhusawal. The OPGW will function both as a protective wire for the traction system and as a high-capacity communication medium, eliminating the need for additional civil works.

In parallel, underground optical fibre cables with 2x48 fibre capacity will be laid over 2,673.21 km across all five divisions. These upgrades are expected to significantly enhance rail safety, enable seamless high-speed data communication, and support broader digitalisation and modernisation efforts across Indian Railways.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.