Kernex-VRRC Secures ₹311 Crore Kavach Contract from Southern Railway

The Hyderabad-based Kernex-VRRC consortium has received a major boost after Southern Railway (SR) awarded it a ₹311 crore contract to implement Kavach, India’s indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.

The project, part of SR’s Chennai Division, is split into two key segments:

Chennai-Gudur, Chennai-Arakkonam, and Arakkonam-Renigunta sections – Kavach will be deployed across these critical routes at a cost of ₹173 crore to enhance rail safety and reduce the risk of collisions.

Arakkonam-Jolarpettai section – Valued at ₹138 crore, this segment includes not only Kavach installation but also the development of essential telecom infrastructure, such as towers and a 48-fiber Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) backbone network.

Kernex Micro Systems, a leading partner in the joint venture, holds a 60% stake in the consortium. The award of this contract highlights Indian Railways’ continued commitment to expanding the Kavach system as part of broader efforts to improve rail safety and operational reliability.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.