In a major technological upgrade to rail safety, Indian Railways has successfully commissioned Kavach 4.0, the latest version of its Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, on the Mathura-Kota section of the Delhi-Mumbai high-density corridor. This indigenously developed system is designed to prevent train accidents by continuously monitoring and controlling train speed—especially crucial in low-visibility conditions such as fog or rain.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw hailed the achievement, emphasizing its alignment with PM Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. Approved by the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) in July 2024, Kavach 4.0 is designed to operate at speeds up to 160 kmph and has reached Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL 4)—the highest global safety certification.
The system’s architecture includes Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags installed at 1-km intervals and all signal points, integrated with Loco Kavach units in locomotives. These units communicate in real-time through a telecom network powered by 619 towers and 5,856 km of optical fibre cable laid alongside tracks. In case of risk, Kavach can trigger automatic brake application, eliminating human error.
Kavach 4.0 also features advanced digital dashboards, enabling loco pilots to drive without relying on physical signal spotting—transformational during fog or poor visibility.
Indian Railways has installed Kavach at 708 stations and equipped 1,107 locomotives so far, covering 4,001 route km. More than 30,000 personnel have been trained in operations and maintenance, with the Indian Railway Institute of Signal Engineering and Telecommunications (IRISET) collaborating with 17 AICTE-approved colleges to include Kavach in BTech programs.
Railways currently spends ₹1 lakh crore annually on safety-related improvements, and Kavach is central to this strategy. With its first phase now operational, the ministry aims to complete the pan-India rollout within six years, making train travel in India safer and smarter.
