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(GIST OF SCIENCE REPORTER) Kavach

(AUGUST-2024)

The Kavach 4.0 recently received certification by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO).

Railway Ministry allocates Rs 1,112.57 cr for Kavach in 2024-25.
Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system and a highly technology intensive system, which requires safety certification of highest order.
Developed by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the Indian industry.
Kavach aids the loco pilot in train running within specified speed limits by automatic application of brakes in case Loco Pilot fails to do so and also helps the train safely run during inclement weather.
Kavach has been certified for highest level of Safety Integrity Level - SIL4 by Independent Safety Assessor and reduces the probability of train collisions in block sections and on running lines at stations through its non-SIL features.
Present status: Kavach has so far been deployed on 1465 Route km and 144 locomotives (including Electric Multiple Unit rakes) on South Central Railway.

Installation of Station Kavach at each and every station.
Installation of RFID tags throughout the track length.
Installation of Telecom Towers throughout the section.
Laying of optical Fibre cable along the track.
Provision of Loco Kavach on each and every Locomotive running on Indian Railways.

Prevention of Trains / Locomotives Passing Signal at Danger (SPAD)
Continuous update of Movement Authority with display of signal aspects in Driver Machine Interface (DMI) / Loco Pilot operation cum Indication Panel (LPOCIP)
Automatic Braking for Prevention of Over Speeding
Auto-Whistling while approaching Level Crossing Gates
Prevention of collision between two Locomotives equipped with functional KAVACH
SoS Messages during emergency situations
Centralised live monitoring of Train movements through Network Monitor

The Traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), with the help of equipment on board the locomotive and transmission towers at stations connected with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, helps in two-way communication between the station master and loco-pilot to convey any emergency message.
The instrument panel inside the cabin helps the loco-pilot know about the signal in advance without visual sighting, and the permissible speeds to be maintained.
If a red signal is jumped and two trains come face to face on the same line, the technology automatically takes over and applies sudden brakes.
Additionally, the hooter activates by itself when approaching a level crossing which serves as a big boon to loco-pilots during fog conditions when visibility is low.