East Coast Railway Gets ₹270 Crore Kavach Safety Shield

The Ministry of Railways has approved the installation of Kavach, India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, across 631 route kilometres of the East Coast Railway at an estimated cost of ₹270 crore.

The initiative forms part of Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to enhance railway safety through advanced signalling and communication technologies. The approved rollout will cover six major railway sections: Baghuapal–Budhapank, Haridaspur–Paradeep, Khurda Road–Balangir, Naupada–Gunupur, Lanjigarh Road–Junagarh, and Bobbili–Salur.

Kavach is designed to improve train safety by preventing Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) incidents, regulating train speeds, and reducing the risk of collisions through continuous monitoring of train operations. The system can automatically apply brakes when required, ensuring safer train movement across the network.

The technology will operate on an LTE-based communication framework, enabling real-time information exchange between trains and railway infrastructure. In addition to enhancing safety, Kavach is expected to improve operational efficiency and reliability, particularly during adverse weather conditions such as dense fog, where visibility is limited.

The deployment is anticipated to strengthen passenger and freight rail operations across Odisha and other regions served by the East Coast Railway, contributing to a safer and more efficient railway network.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.