Indian Railways’ KAVACH System

What is the KAVACH system?

The KAVACH is a safety system for trains. It was made by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) with help from other groups.

The development of KAVACH, first known as the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), began in 2012 and was completed in 2022.

How does KAVACH work?

KAVACH helps keep trains safe. It stops them from running past red signals and crashing into each other. If the train driver can't control the speed properly, KAVACH automatically puts on the brakes.

During emergencies, KAVACH sends out distress messages. The system lets the station master and the driver communicate using different technologies on the trains and at the stations. In the train cabin, instruments tell the driver about signals and speeds.

The train's hooter also sounds when it's near a level crossing. This helps the drivers in foggy weather when it's hard to see.

Where has KAVACH been deployed?

The KAVACH system is working on 1465 route kilometers (Rkm) and 139 trains in the South Central Railway. Efforts are underway to make the system work on the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes, covering about 3000 Rkm, with plans for an extra 6000 Rkm.

Recently, the new Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express got the KAVACH system. However, railway officials say that only installing KAVACH on the train isn't sufficient to prevent crashes. For effective protection, the entire KAVACH system must be installed along the route, including components in stations and signal towers along the track.

KAVACH works perfectly when all its components are in place. Therefore, the government needs to ensure the installation of all KAVACH components to improve passenger safety.