Indian Railways Safety Investment Skyrockets Nearly Threefold Over Decade
The government has revealed that safety expenditure on Indian Railways has experienced a dramatic increase, nearly tripling over the past decade. According to information shared in the Rajya Sabha by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, spending has risen to Rs 1,17,693 crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year, up from just Rs 39,200 crore in 2013-14.
This substantial financial commitment underscores that safety remains the highest priority for Indian Railways, with the stepped-up investments contributing significantly to a steep decline in accidents over recent years.
Massive Expansion of Indigenous Kavach Train Protection System
A central component of this safety push is the aggressive deployment of Kavach, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. The system, which was adopted as the national ATP system in July 2020, has seen trackside implementation taken up across an impressive 23,360 route kilometres.
This coverage includes critical sections of the rail network such as the Golden Quadrilateral, Golden Diagonal, High Density Network, and other identified corridors. Kavach technology assists loco pilots by ensuring trains operate within specified speed limits and automatically applies brakes if the driver fails to do so, enhancing safety during adverse weather conditions.
Kavach Version 4.0 Commissioned on Key High-Density Corridors
Following extensive trials, the advanced Kavach Version 4.0 has been commissioned across 1,297 route kilometres. This deployment includes pivotal high-density corridors like the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes.
The latest iteration of the system brings substantial improvements, including:
- Enhanced location accuracy for better train tracking
- Improved handling of signal information in large railway yards
- Direct interface capability with electronic interlocking systems
Major Locomotive Upgrades and Extensive Personnel Training
Indian Railways has taken concrete steps to equip its fleet with this technology. Tenders have been finalized to outfit 6,300 electric locomotives with Kavach Version 4.0, while another tender for 2,679 diesel locomotives is currently under finalization.
Parallel to hardware deployment, a massive training initiative has seen more than 48,000 personnel receive instruction on Kavach technology. This includes approximately 45,000 loco pilots and assistant loco pilots, ensuring operational proficiency across the network.
Significant Financial Outlay for Kavach Infrastructure
The implementation of Kavach represents a considerable financial undertaking. The cost for providing trackside and station infrastructure is approximately Rs 50 lakh per kilometre, while onboard locomotive equipment costs about Rs 80 lakh per locomotive.
Total funds utilized for Kavach works until December 2025 stood at Rs 2,573.36 crore, with Rs 1,673.19 crore specifically allocated for the 2025-26 fiscal year alone.
Comprehensive CCTV Surveillance Network for Enhanced Security
Complementing the Kavach system, Indian Railways is executing a major expansion of onboard surveillance to bolster passenger safety and security. The national transporter has equipped around 12,300 coaches and 460 locomotives with CCTV cameras across its network.
This installation includes all operational Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat train rakes. The strategic placement of surveillance cameras serves a dual purpose: deterring vandalism, theft, and other miscreant activities while providing crucial assistance in incident investigation processes.
Zonal railways and production units across the country are actively engaged in the procurement and installation of these security systems, creating a comprehensive safety net for millions of daily passengers.
