Indian Railways has commissioned the indigenous railway safety system Kavach 4.0 on the Mathura-Kota section of the high-density Delhi-Mumbai route. 

• This marks a significant step towards modernizing railway safety systems in the country.

What is Kavach?

Overview

• Kavach is an indigenously developed train safety system aimed at preventing accidents by monitoring and controlling train speeds.
• The system operates at Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL 4), the highest safety design level.

Development Timeline

• The development of Kavach began in 2015, and the first operational certificate was granted in 2018.
• In May 2025, it was approved for speeds up to 160 kmph.

Components of Kavach

• Kavach is a complex system with various integrated components to ensure the safety of train operations.

RFID Tags

• Installed every 1 km along the tracks and at every signal.
• The RFID tags provide the precise location of trains, allowing for continuous tracking and safety monitoring.

Telecom Towers

• Telecom towers are set up across the track every few kilometers.
• These towers provide optical fiber connectivity and power supply to enable constant communication between Kavach systems installed on trains and at stations.
• This system functions like a telecom operator network covering the track.

Loco Kavach

• Installed on locomotives, it interacts with RFID tags on the tracks.
• It relays information to telecom towers and receives data from Station Kavach.
• The Loco Kavach is also integrated with the braking system of locomotives, automatically applying brakes in case of an emergency.

Station Kavach

• Installed at every station and block section.
• Receives information from the Loco Kavach and signaling system, guiding the Loco Kavach to ensure safe speeds for trains.

Optical Fiber Cable (OFC)

• Optical fiber is laid along the tracks to connect all systems, enabling high-speed data communication between the various components of Kavach.

Signaling System

• The signaling system is integrated with the Loco Kavach, Station Kavach, telecom towers, and other components to maintain safe and synchronized operations.

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