Answer

India’s railway infrastructure is vast but outdated, making it prone to accidents due to various deficiencies. A recent signal failure led to the Mysore-Darbhanga Express colliding with a stationary goods train near Chennai, highlighting the urgent need for stronger safety measures. Despite being one of the world’s largest railway networks, incidents like these underscore the necessity of modernization to prevent such accidents.

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Infrastructural Deficiencies Contributing to Accidents

• Obsolete Signalling Systems: Many sections still rely on manual signalling, increasing the risk of human error, which is a significant factor in accidents.
  For example: The 2024 Mysore-Darbhanga collision was caused by a signalling failure, leading to a train being diverted onto the wrong track.
• Overutilized High-Density Routes: Routes like Delhi-Kolkata are heavily congested, which causes frequent delays and safety compromises due to increased pressure on the network.
• Lack of Automatic Train Protection (ATP): The absence of ATP systems like Kavach makes it difficult to prevent collisions caused by overspeeding or signal breaches.
• Inadequate Track Maintenance: Aged tracks, coupled with poor maintenance schedules, result in frequent derailments and accidents.
  For example: The 2017 Kalinga Utkal Express derailment was attributed to poor track conditions.
• Human Resource Constraints: Overworked staff, especially locomotive pilots, often operate under stressful conditions, leading to errors.
  For example: The Comptroller and Auditor General’s report of 2021 highlighted that a shortage of trained staff directly impacts safety.
• Old Rolling Stock: Many Indian trains use outdated coaches, lacking modern safety features like crashworthy designs.
  For example: The 2023 Odisha accident involved old ICF coaches, which were less impact-resistant than modern LHB coaches.
• Inadequate Disaster Response Infrastructure: The lack of robust emergency response mechanisms exacerbates the damage when accidents occur.
  For example: It took over 6 hours to clear debris in the 2023 Balasore accident, delaying critical rescue operations.

Role of the ‘Kavach’ System in Addressing Deficiencies

• Prevents Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD): The Kavach system stops trains automatically if they pass a red signal, preventing dangerous collisions.
  For example: The Railway Ministry implemented Kavach on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes, resulting in a reduction in incidents.
• Collision Avoidance: Kavach detects if two trains are on the same track and automatically applies brakes to prevent a collision.
  For example: The system successfully averted potential accidents during trials on the South-Central Railway network.
• Monitoring Speed Compliance: Kavach ensures that trains do not exceed speed limits, reducing the risk of accidents caused by overspeeding.
• Improves Locomotive Pilot Working Conditions: By automating critical functions, Kavach reduces the workload on locomotive pilots, minimising human errors.
  For example: Trials have shown a reduction in fatigue-related errors by 50% among pilots using Kavach-protected trains.
• Modernising Infrastructure: The integration of Kavach signals a shift toward a more digitised and automated railway system, addressing many infrastructure challenges.
  For example: The National Rail Plan 2030 envisions expanding Kavach across 34,000 km of high-density routes.
• Cost-Effective Safety: The system can be implemented at 2% of annual railway capital expenditure, offering a cost-effective way to modernise the network.
  For example: The 2024 Railway Budget allocated ₹1,112.57 crore to expand the Kavach Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system over major railway corridors.
• Enhances Disaster Response: By providing real-time data on train locations, Kavach facilitates quicker responses in case of accidents, improving safety outcomes.
  For example: Post-Kavach implementation, emergency response times on the Bengaluru-Chennai route have decreased

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While the Indian Railways faces significant infrastructural deficiencies, the Kavach system offers a transformative solution to enhance safety and efficiency. By modernising signalling systems, preventing collisions, and improving train operations, Kavach can address many of the deficiencies that contribute to accidents. Expanding its implementation network-wide is critical to ensuring safer rail travel in India.