Indian Railways on Friday commissioned 472.3 route kilometres (RKm) of Kavach Version 4.0, the indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, across three key sections of its network, marking the highest-ever Kavach commissioning achieved in a single day and in a single month.
The newly commissioned sections include the Vadodara–Virar stretch (344 km) on Western Railway, Tuglakabad Junction Cabin–Palwal (35 km) on Northern Railway, and Manpur–Sarmatanr (93.3 km) on East Central Railway, according to an official statement issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
With this addition, Kavach 4.0 coverage has crossed 1,300 route kilometres, spanning five zones of Indian Railways, significantly boosting safety on high-density and mixed-traffic corridors.
Record-Breaking Milestone
The commissioning of 472.3 RKm surpasses the previous highest single-day record of 324 RKm, achieved on the Kota–Mathura section of West Central Railway. Prior to the latest rollout, Kavach 4.0 had been operational over 834 route kilometres.
Major sections already covered include the Palwal–Mathura–Nagda stretch (633 km) on the Delhi–Mumbai route, the Howrah–Bardhaman section (105 km) on the Delhi–Howrah route, and 96 km on the Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad section in Gujarat.
Northern Railway: Safety Boost on Delhi–Mumbai Route
On Northern Railway, Kavach 4.0 was commissioned on the 35-km Tuglakabad Junction Cabin–Palwal section, part of the four-line Delhi–Mumbai corridor covering 152 main line track kilometres.
The system has been installed across station yards, two main lines with automatic signalling, and two lines operating under absolute block signalling. The section handles dense suburban, passenger, and freight traffic, making it one of the busiest corridors in the country.
Railway officials said the commissioning would significantly enhance operational safety, reliability, and passenger confidence on this critical stretch.
East Central Railway: Kavach-Enabled Train Operations Begin
On East Central Railway, train operations with Kavach 4.0 commenced on the 93.3-km Manpur–Sarmatanr section of the Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDUGJ) division.
The first Kavach-enabled service, Train No. 13305 Sasaram Intercity Express, successfully operated on the section. During the trial run, a head-on collision test was conducted, during which the system automatically applied brakes and brought the train to a halt, validating its effectiveness.
Kavach is being installed over 4,235 route kilometres of East Central Railway, including 417 route kilometres on the Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction–Manpur section of the Delhi–Howrah trunk route. The corridor currently supports speeds up to 130 kmph, with works underway under Mission Raftar to raise the speed potential to 160 kmph.
Western Railway: Mumbai Linked to Kavach Network
On Western Railway, Kavach 4.0 was commissioned on the 344-km Vadodara–Surat–Virar section of the Delhi–Mumbai route. The milestone was achieved with Train No. 20907 Dadar–Bhuj Sayajinagri Express, which became the first Kavach-equipped train to operate from Mumbai.
Officials said work on the Vadodara–Nagda section is progressing rapidly and is expected to be commissioned by March 2026, while the Virar–Mumbai Central section is targeted for completion by September 2026.
So far, 364 locomotives on Western Railway have been equipped with Kavach. In addition, Kavach works have been sanctioned on multiple sections covering 2,667 route kilometres, with execution underway.
About Kavach 4.0
Kavach Version 4.0 is the latest and most advanced iteration of India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection system. Developed through continuous technological upgrades and approved by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), it has been certified by an Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) to meet global safety standards, including SIL-4, the highest level of safety integrity.
The system integrates microprocessors, GPS, and radio communication to prevent Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), control overspeeding, and avert head-on, rear-end, and side collisions. Kavach also functions effectively under low visibility and adverse weather conditions and provides alerts for wrong-direction movements and level crossing gate information.
Being indigenously designed and cost-effective, Kavach reduces dependence on imported technologies while promoting the domestic signalling industry.
Indian Railways said the latest commissioning reinforces its commitment to safer, smarter, and more reliable rail operations, benefiting millions of passengers across the country.
