Bhubaneswar: Train accidents are the cruellest. On average, one life gets lost every day in train accident in the country. Between 2004-05 and 2023-24, the country saw loss of a massive 5,242 innocent lives
This year up to October 2024, the country has recorded as many as 25 train accidents, including the Kanchenjunga train accidents in June 2024 that took a toll of 11.
2023-24 was the worst year as 313 lives were lost – the year when Bahanga Odisha train tragedy took place smoking out 296 innocent lives.
Though the number of train accidents in the country is on the down slope (see the table and chart below)..
the number of consequential train accidents in the country is still a nagging concern. As per Railway standing committee report on accidents (post investigation), in 85% cases the cause of the accident has been HUMAN ERROR. (SEE the table below).
In such a miserable scenario, TECHNOLOGY is seen as the saviour of humans travelling in trains. And the technological guard – KAVACH – roll out has been on full steam in the Indian railways.
KAVACH – UMBRELLA PROTECTION
As per Indian Railways, Kavach, a highly technology intensive system, is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
It aids the Loco Pilot in running of train within specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so and also help the trains to run safely during inclement weather.
KAVACH ROLL OUT PLAN
As per recently submitted report by the Standing Committee on Railways, at present, Kavach works are in progress on Delhi - Mumbai & Delhi - Howrah corridors (approximately 3000 Route km) with the status given below in the table.
Further, Kavach tenders have been invited on Delhi – Chennai, Mumbai – Chennai corridors and other important sections on Indian Railways for approx. 13000 Route Kms, including 595 route km under East coast Railway (EcoR) - from Raintal Junction to Duvvada junction (Vishakapatnam) in Andhra Pradesh.
The report says Kavach is being provided progressively on Indian Railway network in a phased manner. The progress of Key items comprising Kavach system on Indian Railways upto Nov 2024 given below.
At present, the total route km of Indian Railways have been at a whopping 68,584 route km. Of which, in 3000 route km, the work is almost nearing completion.
As Kavach was adopted as National ATP system in July 2020, the roll out in 3000 route km may see completion in 2025-26. The implementation took around 6 years.
Since tender for 13k route km has been completed, at this pace, the work may see completion by 2050. The completion of these 16k route km will reduce 95% of the accidents in Indian railways as majority of the train accidents have taken place on these busy routes.
However, as per highly placed sources, as the Modi govt has envisioned year 2047 as target to achieve the mile stone of developed India status, the railway Board is expediting the Kavach roll out plan to meet the deadline much before. But one has to see the progress on ground to ascertain the claims. The current rate of work doesn't look assuring even as fund seems no contraint. Because,
The funds utilized on Kavach works so far is Rs 1547 Crores. The allocation of funds during the year 2024-25 is Rs. 1,112.57 Crores. Requisite funds are made available as per the progress of works, the Railway ministry says.
NEW KAVACH
The Research Designs and Standard Organisation on July 16 this year has approved the Kavach specification version 4.0.
WHAT NEW?
The Kavach version 4.0 covers all the major features required for the diverse railway network. The IR considers this a significant milestone in safety for Indian Railways.
The IR claim that within a short period, they had developed, tested and started deploying Automatic Train Protection System. The Major improvement in Version 4.0 includes
- Increased Location Accuracy
- Improved Information of Signal Aspects in bigger yard
- Station to Station Kavach interface on Optical Fibre Cable
- And Direct Interface to existing Electronic Interlocking System.
- With these improvements, Kavach Ver.4.0. is planned for large scale deployment over Indian Railways.
