Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, informed the Lok Sabha that the implementation of the Automatic Train Protection system, KAVACH, is progressing rapidly across the country. The minister highlighted the significant infrastructure development undertaken to deploy the advanced safety technology in the Indian Railways network.
Responding to supplementary questions in the House, Mr. Vaishnaw explained that KAVACH is a highly complex safety system comprising five integrated sub-systems designed to enhance train safety and prevent collisions. He shared that major groundwork has already been completed to support the rollout. Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) has been laid across 8,570 kilometres of railway tracks, forming the backbone of the communication network required for the system.
In addition, more than 1,100 telecom towers have been installed to ensure seamless communication, while 767 station data centres have been established at railway stations to support real-time monitoring and operations. The Railways has also installed trackside equipment across 6,776 kilometres to facilitate the functioning of the KAVACH system.
The minister noted that the development of such an automatic train protection system should ideally have begun in the 1990s. However, he said the initiative gained momentum only after the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, following which the project was accelerated.
Apart from railway safety, Mr. Vaishnaw also spoke about the measures taken by the Ministry of Railways to protect wildlife along railway routes. He said the Railways has been building underpasses and overpasses to allow safe movement of animals across tracks. The ministry is also deploying modern technologies such as optical fibre-based monitoring systems and Artificial Intelligence-powered cameras to detect and prevent wildlife accidents, particularly those involving elephants.
Responding to another question regarding the development of Konkan Railway, the minister stated that work on a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is underway to enhance the line’s carrying capacity. He described the Konkan Railway as a strategically important corridor and said steps are being taken to strengthen its tunnels and tracks.
Mr. Vaishnaw further pointed out that four states—Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala—are stakeholders in the Konkan Railway project. He urged greater cooperation from the governments of Karnataka and Kerala to support the efforts aimed at strengthening and expanding the capacity of this vital railway link.
The minister reiterated that Indian Railways is committed to improving safety standards, modernizing infrastructure, and adopting advanced technologies to ensure a more efficient and secure rail network for the country.
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