Indian Railways has rolled out KAVACH 4.0, the latest version of its indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, across 1,465 route kilometers (Rkms) of the South Central Railway network. This marks a significant leap in India’s push toward a self-reliant and safer railway system under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industries, KAVACH is a cutting-edge safety system designed to prevent accidents by automatically applying brakes if a train driver fails to respond in time. The South Central Railway has been a key partner in both developing and deploying the system.
The KAVACH system has been installed on 144 locomotives, offering real-time updates on movement authority, auto-whistling at level crossings, and effective collision avoidance. An integrated SOS emergency feature ensures immediate response during critical situations, enhancing passenger and crew safety.
KAVACH 4.0 has already been commissioned on 63 Rkms of the Sanatnagar–Vikarabad section and will soon be installed on 10,000 locomotives across India. Meanwhile, the previous version, KAVACH 3.2, continues to be deployed on sections like Nagarsol–Mudkhed, Secunderabad–Kurnool, and Bidar–Parbhani.
Since its pilot launch in 2014–15 and official national standardization in 2020, KAVACH has undergone continuous improvements, becoming one of the world’s most cost-effective yet advanced train protection systems. With KAVACH 4.0, Indian Railways is setting new benchmarks in automated railway safety and innovation.
