Andhra Pradesh Train Crash: Full Kavach Cover May Take A Decade

Context:

• The railways plans to float a ₹5,000 crore tender early next year for fast-tracking the adoption of Kavach. 

More about the news

• It has been suggested that the recent accident happened because of a collision of two trains which is a human error.
• In such cases, as per experts, anti-collision devices on trains can help avert a collision. 

About Kavach – Automatic Train Protection (ATP)/Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) 

• The KAVACH is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO).
• It is a state-of-the-art electronic system with Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) standards. 
• It is meant to provide protection by preventing trains to pass the signal at Red (which marks danger) and avoid collision. 
• It activates the train’s braking system automatically if the driver fails to control the train as per speed restrictions. In addition, it prevents the collision between two locomotives equipped with functional Kavach systems. 

• The system also relays SoS messages during emergency situations. 
• An added feature is the centralised live monitoring of train movements through the Network Monitor System. 
• Kavach is one of the cheapest, SIL-4 certified technologies where the probability of error is 1 in 10,000 years.

News Source: Live Mint