India’s railway network is undergoing modernization, with safety being a top priority. The indigenously developed automatic train protection system, ‘Kavach,’ has been deployed across over 1,500 km of track, aiming to prevent accidents and enhance safety. While its current coverage is limited, plans for its expansion on high-traffic routes like Mumbai-Howrah and Delhi-Howrah indicate a focused approach towards safer train travel.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced enhanced ex-gratia compensation for the victims of the Kanchanjunga Express accident in West Bengal. The accident occurred when a goods train rammed the passenger train from the rear after allegedly jumping a signal, leading to the derailment of several coaches. The minister confirmed that an initial investigation suggests human error as the cause of the accident. The incident has again emphasized the need for the Kavach anti-train collision system across the Indian railway network.
Indian Railways is poised to issue a massive 5,000 crore tender to expedite the implementation of Kavach, an automatic train protection (ATP) system, across 10,000 km of its network. This move aims to bolster safety and prevent accidents like the one in Balasore last year. The tender, which will be split into two parts, is expected to be released in the coming months, marking a substantial expansion from the first Kavach tender in 2021. The system, which prevents accidents caused by human error, has been approved for use by additional vendors, including Japanese firm Kyosan. This initiative will accelerate the rollout of Kavach, with plans to equip the entire 70,000 km railway network within a decade.
