New Delhi, Dec 30 Continuing the expansion of India’s indigenous railway safety technology, Kavach 4.0, the advanced Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, has been successfully commissioned on Gujarat’s first Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad rail section, spanning 96 kilometres. The commissioning marks a major milestone in strengthening operational safety on one of the state’s important rail corridors.
The project covers 17 stations and is supported by robust infrastructure, including 23 communication towers, 20 Kavach buildings/huts, 192 km of optical fibre cable, and the installation of 2,872 RFID tags, enabling seamless and real-time safety communication across the route.
The maiden Kavach-enabled train on this section was the Sankalp Fast Passenger (59549/59550), operated using WAP-7 locomotives with 11 LHB coaches, demonstrating the system’s readiness for regular passenger operations.
Kavach 4.0 is now fully operational on the Bajwa–Ahmedabad section and is designed to automatically mitigate safety risks by preventing incidents arising from Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD). The system enforces automatic speed control, including sectional speed, loop line supervision, and Permanent Speed Restriction (PSR) compliance. It also provides protection against head-on and rear-end collisions. Additional safety features include an SOS facility and automatic whistling at level crossing gates, further enhancing passenger and operational safety.
So far, Kavach has been implemented across more than 2,200 route kilometres of the Indian Railways network, with deployment accelerating on high-density and high-priority routes.
Developed indigenously by Indian Railways, Kavach is a highly technology-intensive ATP system certified to Safety Integrity Level–4 (SIL-4), one of the highest global safety standards in railway signalling. The system assists Loco Pilots by automatically applying brakes when prescribed speed limits are exceeded or when safety conditions are compromised, significantly reducing the risk of accidents, even during adverse weather conditions.
Based on continuous operational feedback and independent safety assessments, Kavach Version 4.0 received approval from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO). The latest version represents a major technological upgrade, tailored to meet the demands of India’s diverse and high-density rail network.
Key enhancements in Kavach 4.0 include improved train location accuracy, better signal aspect information in large and complex station yards, station-to-station Kavach interface through optical fibre cable for faster and more reliable communication, and direct integration with existing electronic interlocking systems, ensuring seamless coordination with current signalling infrastructure. The system has also been certified by an Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) to meet global safety standards.
The commissioning of Kavach 4.0 on Gujarat’s Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad section reaffirms Indian Railways’ commitment to deploying indigenous, world-class safety technologies, enhancing passenger safety, improving operational reliability, and advancing the vision of a safer, smarter, and more resilient rail network for the nation.
