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Kavach Safety System: RTI Activist Questions Railways Over Gaps in South Central Railway

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An RTI activist has questioned Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw over Kavach coverage in South Central Railway after an RTI reply cited 21 consequential train accidents on sections without the system.

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Hyderabad: Questions over railway safety have resurfaced in the South Central Railway (SCR) zone. An RTI activist has questioned the limited rollout of the latest Kavach automatic train protection system.

The issue came to light after the SCR responded to an RTI query on September 1, 2026. The information reportedly showed 21 consequential train accidents since 2016 on sections where Kavach had not been installed.

RTI activist Robin Zaccheus raised the issue in a post addressed to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. He questioned why passengers should travel on sections that remain outside Kavach coverage.

Zaccheus also questioned the pace of the system’s expansion. He asked why sanctioned projects should be considered equivalent to actual safety coverage.

What is Kavach?

Kavach is India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. It was developed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) with Indian industry partners.

The system is designed to reduce the risk of train collisions. It can also automatically apply brakes when required.

Kavach can assist loco pilots by monitoring train movement and speed. It can also provide signal information inside the locomotive cabin.

The latest Kavach 4.0 specification was approved by RDSO in July 2024. It includes upgraded features and improved communication capabilities.

SCR’s Kavach rollout under scrutiny

The South Central Railway zone is particularly significant in the history of Kavach. Its first passenger-train field trials were conducted in the SCR region.

The zone covers major railway networks across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Despite this history, concerns remain about extending the system across the wider network.

Zaccheus has called for 100% Kavach 4.0 coverage on every running line under SCR. His comments have renewed questions about passenger safety and the timeline for completing the rollout.

Earlier data had also shown that Kavach deployment was initially limited to a small portion of India’s railway network. The system had been deployed across 1,465 route kilometres on SCR in earlier phases.

Why Kavach matters for passengers

Kavach is intended to act as an additional safety layer during train operations. It can intervene when a train approaches a danger signal or when braking action is not taken in time.

The system is also designed to support operations during poor visibility. Features include automatic braking and communication between equipped locomotives.

The latest concerns have therefore placed renewed focus on how quickly Kavach 4.0 can reach uncovered railway sections.

For passengers, the central question remains simple: when will advanced train protection become available across the routes they regularly use?

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