• Friday, March 29, 2024

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What is Kavach, India’s automatic train protection system which is back in focus after Odisha train crash

The railways has said that Kavach was not available on the route where the accident occurred on June 2 evening.

This screen grab made from AFPTV video footage taken on June 3, 2023 shows people gathering at the accident site of a three-train collision near Balasore, about 200 km (125 miles) from the state capital Bhubaneswar in the eastern state of Odisha. At least 288 people were killed and more than 850 injured in a horrific three-train collision in India, officials said on June 3, the country’s deadliest rail accident in more than 20 years. (Photo by JAYANTA SHAW/AFPTV/AFP via Getty Images)

By: India Weekly Staff

The multi-train accident in Balasore in the eastern Indian state of Odisha , which killed nearly 300 people and injured almost 1,000, has brought the railways’ automatic train protection system “Kavach” back into focus.

The railways has said that “Kavach” (shield) was not available on the route where the accident occurred on Friday (2) evening.

What is Kavach?

The Indian Railways has developed its own automatic train protection system called “Kavach” for enhancing safety of running trains. Kavach has been developed indigenously by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in association with three Indian vendors.

People voluntarily donate blood for injured in Balasore hospital after deadly train crash in Odisha

Kavach will not only aid loco pilot to avoid signal passing at danger and over-speeding but also help in train running during inclement weather such as dense fog.

Thus, Kavach will enhance safety and efficiency of train operations.

Salient features of Kavach

  • Controls speed of a train by automatic application of brakes in case loco pilot fails to apply the brakes.
  • Repeats line-side signal in cab which is very useful for higher speeds and foggy weather.
  • Works on principle of continuous update of movement authority.
  • Auto whistling at level-crossing gates.
  • Collision avoidance by direct loco to loco communication.
  • Supports feature of SOS in case of any mishap to control train in vicinity.

    Trials of Kavach were conducted on the Lingampally-Vikarabad-Wadi and Vikarabad-Bidar sections of South Central Railway, covering a distance of 250 kilometres.

    Following successful trials, three vendors were approved for further developmental orders on the Indian Railways network. The total expenditure incurred on the development of Kavach stands at Rs 16.88 crore.

    The roll-out of Kavach is planned on the New Delhi-Howrah and New Delhi-Mumbai sections, with a target completion date of March 2024. Further expansion will be based on the experience gained from the initial implementation, officials said.

(PTI)

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