New Delhi, March 24: Indian Railways has commissioned the indigenous Kavach Automatic Train Protection system on the Prayagraj–Kanpur section of the busy Delhi–Howrah corridor, marking a significant step in enhancing rail safety and operational efficiency.
The system has been activated across a 190 route kilometre stretch between Prayagraj and Kanpur. The rollout was executed using Train No. 14163, alongside a footplate inspection conducted by senior officials between Subedarganj and Manauri.
Kavach is designed to prevent accidents caused by human error by automatically applying brakes if a train passes a signal at danger, while continuously monitoring speed and signalling conditions. Its deployment is expected to support higher operational speeds of up to 160 kmph on one of India’s busiest rail corridors.
In the initial phase, the system will be operational on eight pairs of trains, including services such as the Chauri Chaura Express, with plans to expand coverage to additional trains, including Vande Bharat Express, in the coming months.
Extensive trials were conducted prior to commissioning, including test runs using WAP-7 locomotive with LHB coaches and a 20-coach Vande Bharat rake. Passenger trials covering over 20,000 kilometres were completed without issues, validating system reliability.
Developed under the Make in India programme, Kavach is a key component of the government’s rail modernisation strategy. Version 4.0 of the system has already been deployed across more than 1,450 route kilometres, including sections of the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah corridors.
Looking ahead, Indian Railways plans to expand Kavach deployment to additional routes, with the Ghaziabad–Tundla section next in line under Mission Raftaar, aimed at improving speed, safety, and efficiency across the national network.
