The Indian Railways is set to scale up the implementation of its indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (Kavach) in a significant way. A project to equip 10,000 locomotives has been finalized, with 69 loco sheds prepared for installation.

Bids have been invited for track-side works covering approximately 15,000 route kilometers (RKm), including key routes like Golden Quadrilateral (GQ), Golden Diagonal (GD), and High-Density Network (HDN). So far, contracts for 1,865 RKm have been awarded.

To expand capacity, trials for additional Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are underway, beyond the three currently approved. Meanwhile, over 20,000 railway personnel have been trained at IRISET and other institutes to ensure efficient implementation.

With an estimated cost of ₹50 lakh per RKm for track-side equipment and ₹80 lakh per locomotive, ₹1,950 crore has already been spent on Kavach. For 2024-25, ₹1,112.57 crore has been allocated, ensuring steady progress.

Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw provided this update in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on 19th March, 2025.

Source/RSB