West Bengal Railways Secure Major Safety Boost with Kavach System
The Ministry of Railways has given its official approval for a significant safety enhancement project in West Bengal. This project involves installing the indigenously developed Kavach automatic train protection system across 443 route kilometers of railway tracks in the state.
Massive Investment for Passenger Safety
The Eastern Railway will implement this crucial safety measure at an estimated cost of Rs 223.83 crore. This substantial investment demonstrates the government's commitment to strengthening rail safety infrastructure across India.
Kavach represents a major technological advancement for Indian Railways. This system actively prevents train collisions and controls over-speeding incidents. Its implementation will significantly enhance passenger safety while ensuring more reliable train operations throughout West Bengal.
Comprehensive Coverage Across Key Routes
The approved project covers fifteen important railway sections within the Eastern Railway zone. These critical routes include:
- Howrah to Santragachi
- Liluah to Belur Math
- Tarakeswar to Goghat
- Maynapur to Bishnupur
- Rampurhat to Dumka
- Azimganj to Murshidabad
- Lakshmikantapur to Namkhana
- Kankurgachhi to Ballygunge
- Kalyani to Kalyani Simanta
- Krishnanagar Junction to Amghata
- Krishnanagar City to Lalgola
- Murshidabad to Azimganj
- Asansol to Burnpur
- Barachak to Hirapur
- Bakhtar Nagar to Andal
This extensive coverage ensures that major passenger and freight routes receive the protective benefits of the Kavach system.
Part of Larger Railway Safety Initiative
The West Bengal Kavach project forms part of a much broader national initiative. The umbrella project titled "Provision of Kavach with communication backbone of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) on balance routes of Indian Railways" has received approval under the Works, Machinery & Rolling Stock Programme for 2024-25.
This comprehensive national project carries a total budget of Rs 27,693 crore. Within this framework, Eastern Railway has secured a sub-allocation of Rs 896 crore specifically for safety enhancements in its operational zones.
Advanced Technology with Version 4.0
The Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) approved Kavach version 4.0 on July 16, 2024. This latest iteration incorporates several important improvements designed for India's diverse railway network.
Key enhancements in version 4.0 include increased location accuracy, improved signal aspect information for larger railway yards, station-to-station interface capabilities using Optical Fiber Cable (OFC), and direct interface compatibility with existing Electronic Interlocking Systems.
These technological advancements make Kavach version 4.0 particularly suitable for large-scale deployment across Indian Railways. The system represents a significant step forward in indigenous railway safety technology development.
The approval of this project marks a crucial milestone for railway safety in West Bengal. Passengers traveling through the state can look forward to enhanced protection and more reliable train services once the Kavach system becomes operational across these important routes.
