🗞️ Why in News Indian Railways approved a Rs 295-crore deployment of Kavach 4.0, its indigenous Automatic Train Protection system, across 660 route-km and 53 stations of the Izzatnagar Division, North Eastern Railway.
Background
Kavach, formerly called the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), is India’s indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) technology, designed to eliminate human-error-driven train collisions by automatically applying brakes if a driver fails to respond to speed or signal restrictions. Version 4.0 upgrades the system’s communication backbone to LTE, improving reliability over earlier iterations.
Coverage
The Izzatnagar Division rollout covers the Kasganj-Izzatnagar, Izzatnagar-Kathgodam and Bhojipura-Tanakpur routes.
UPSC Relevance
Kavach’s phased nationwide rollout is a recurring current-affairs and Mains theme on railway safety modernisation, particularly in the context of parliamentary scrutiny of the pace and funding adequacy of deployment following major rail accidents. It is also a useful example of indigenous safety-technology development under the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat framework in the infrastructure sector.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
Kavach 4.0, Izzatnagar Division:
- System: Kavach 4.0 (formerly TCAS, Train Collision Avoidance System); indigenous Automatic Train Protection
- Coverage: 660 route-km, 53 stations, Izzatnagar Division, North Eastern Railway
- Cost: Rs 295 crore
- Routes: Kasganj-Izzatnagar, Izzatnagar-Kathgodam, Bhojipura-Tanakpur
- Upgrade: LTE-based communication backbone
Other Relevant Facts:
- Kavach automatically applies brakes when a driver fails to respond to speed/signal restrictions
Sources: Ministry of Railways, PIB
Source: Railways Approves Rs 295-Crore Kavach 4.0 Rollout Across Izzatnagar Division — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs
