The Fact News Service
Ludhiana, August 17
Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. It is a highly technology-intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest order.
This has been revealed in the Parliament session recently by Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in reply to questions about Automatic Brake System in Kavach asked by MP (Rajya Sabha) from Ludhiana Sanjeev Arora.
Arora had asked whether the Kavach system is fully safe to prevent tragic train accidents; if so, the reasons for delay in using it in all the trains. He had also asked about the percentage of possibility of decrease in train accidents by use of Kavach system through its automatic tracking system in case of two trains heading on the same track. Also, whether automatic braking system will be upgraded in the Kavach system in case of animals or people entering the tracks of trains; and if so, the effects of it on trains.
According to Arora, the Minister further stated in his reply that Kavach aids the loco pilot in train running within specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so and help the train safely run during inclement weather. The Minister added that the first field trials on the passenger trains were started in February 2016. Based on the experience so gained and Independent Safety Assessment of the system by a 3rd party (Independent Safety Assessor: ISA) three firms were approved in 2018-19, for supply of Kavach. Subsequently, Kavach was adopted as a National ATP system in July 2020.
Arora said the Minister revealed that Kavach has so far been deployed on 1465 Route km and 121 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South Central Railway. Kavach tenders have been awarded for Delhi – Mumbai and Delhi – Howrah corridors (approximately 3000 Route km) and work is in progress on these routes. Indian Railways is preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) and detailed estimate for another 6000 Route Km. Kavach system is not related to braking in case of animals or people entering track, added the Minister in his reply.
