KAVACH 4.0 Debuts on South Central Railway's Malkajgiri-Kamareddi Stretch

Indian Railways has commissioned KAVACH Version 4.0 for the first time on South Central Railway, upgrading the Automatic Train Protection system from Version 3.2 across 108 route kilometres of the Malkajgiri-Kamareddi section in the Hyderabad Division.

The shift to the newer version draws on operational experience gathered from running KAVACH 3.2 over 1,465 route kilometres on the same zone. The upgraded system is intended to deliver higher reliability and safer train operations, and is slated for wider rollout across the network.

What the new version changes

KAVACH 4.0 has been developed, tested and is now being deployed to meet the varied operational and technological demands of the railway network. Its key improvements include:

• Greater location accuracy, allowing more precise train positioning.
• Better information on signal aspects in larger yards, improving situational awareness.
• Station-to-station KAVACH interface through Optical Fibre Cable for stronger communication and system integration.
• A direct interface with existing Electronic Interlocking Systems, improving integration with current signalling infrastructure.

How KAVACH works

KAVACH is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection system. It helps the Loco Pilot keep trains within prescribed speed limits and can apply brakes automatically if the pilot does not act in time.

The system is designed to guard against Signal Passing at Danger, control train speed in critical situations and lower the risk of collisions. It also supports safer operations during inclement weather. As a technology-intensive safety system, it requires the highest order of safety certification, Safety Integrity Level-4.

Deployment requirements

Rolling out KAVACH involves installing Station KAVACH at stations and block sections, fitting RFID tags along the track, erecting telecommunication towers across the section, laying Optical Fibre Cable along the track, and equipping locomotives with Loco KAVACH.

The commissioning on South Central Railway is a step towards expanding indigenous Automatic Train Protection coverage across the Indian Railways network.