Guntur Railway Division to Get Kavach Automatic Train Protection System
The Guntur Railway Division is set to implement ‘Kavach’, the indigenously developed automatic train protection system. This advanced system, approved by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), is designed to prevent collisions by automatically applying brakes in critical situations such as signal overshoots or when two trains are on a collision course, acting as a vital digital safety shield, particularly during low visibility or in cases of driver error.
Guntur Divisional Railway Manager Sudeshna Sen confirmed that the Kavach project has been sanctioned across various divisions under the South Central Railway, entailing a substantial investment of ₹460 crore for a total coverage of 1,570 km. In its initial phase for the Guntur Division, the ₹98.16 crore project will span 532.04 km across four key routes: Nandyal–Guntur (256.98 km), Guntur–Nadikudi (95.25 km), Nadikudi–Bibinagar (152.69 km), and Guntur–Krishna Canal (27.12 km). This phased rollout aims to maximize immediate safety benefits on high-priority sections.
The groundwork for implementing Kavach involves laying optical fiber cables along the tracks, installing telecom towers, and integrating data centers with the existing signaling network. Additionally, trains operating on these routes will be equipped with onboard Kavach devices, enabling real-time monitoring and emergency control capabilities. This comprehensive approach ensures that both trackside and train-based systems work in tandem to provide a robust safety net for railway operations.
This project is a crucial component of Indian Railways’ broader modernization drive, signifying a major leap towards enhancing passenger safety and improving operational efficiency across its vast network. The Kavach system’s implementation is expected to significantly reduce the risk of accidents, ensuring safer and more reliable train journeys for millions of passengers.
