New Delhi: Indian Railways has commissioned the Kavach system on the Prayagraj–Kanpur section of the Delhi–Howrah high-density corridor, marking a major step in rail safety.
The system now covers 190 route kilometres between Prayagraj and Kanpur. Officials confirmed that the upgrade will support train operations at speeds of up to 160 kmph.
Authorities carried out the commissioning through Train No. 14163. Senior officials also conducted inspections to evaluate system performance under real conditions.
The move is expected to improve operational efficiency on one of the busiest rail corridors in the country.
Kavach system enhances safety and speed
The Kavach system is an indigenous automatic train protection technology. It helps prevent accidents caused by human error.
Key safety features include automatic braking and protection against signal passing at danger. These measures significantly reduce collision risks.
Before rollout, railways conducted extensive trials using different train configurations. These included WAP-7 locomotives and Vande Bharat trains to ensure reliability.
Passenger trials also confirmed consistent performance during regular operations. More than 20,000 kilometres of trial runs were completed successfully.
Expansion plans and future rollout
In the first phase, the system will operate on eight pairs of trains. Authorities plan to expand coverage to more trains, including Vande Bharat services.
The deployment forms part of the government’s push to modernise rail infrastructure. It also aligns with the Make in India initiative.
Previously, Kavach was commissioned on over 1,450 route kilometres across major corridors. These include key sections of the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes.
Officials said the next phase will extend the system to the Ghaziabad–Tundla section. This expansion supports the broader goal of increasing train speeds under Mission Raftaar.
