1. Context

2. What is Kavach System?

• The KAVACH is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the Indian industry.
• The South Central Railway facilitated the trials to achieve safety in train operations across Indian Railways. It is a state­ of­ he­art electronic system with Safety Integrity Level-­4 (SIL-­4) standards.
• It is meant to protect by preventing trains from passing the signal at Red (which marks danger) and avoiding collision.
• It activates the train’s braking system automatically if the driver fails to control the train as per speed restrictions. In addition, it prevents the collision between two locomotives equipped with functional Kavach systems.
• The system also relays SoS messages during emergencies. An added feature is
  the centralized live monitoring of train movements through the Network Monitor System.
• ‘Kavach’ is one of the cheapest, SIL­4 certified technologies where the probability of error is 1 in 10,000 years. 

Source: The Hindu

3. The key feature of Kavach

4. How does Kavach work on Railway systems?

• The Traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), with the help of equipment on board the locomotive and transmission towers at stations connected to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, helps in two ­way communication between the station master and loco­pilot to convey any emergency message.
• The instrument panel inside the cabin helps the loco­pilot know about the signal in advance without visual sighting and the permissible speeds to be maintained.
• If a red signal is jumped and two trains come face to face on the same line, the technology automatically takes over and applies sudden brakes.
• Additionally, the hooter activates by itself when approaching a level crossing which serves as a big boon to loco­pilots during fog conditions when visibility is low.

5. Kavach deployment strategy

• Kavach implementation is being taken up in a focused manner by the Railway board.
• The priority is the High-Density Routes and the New Delhi­Mumbai and New Delhi­Howrah Sections, as they have higher chances of accidents because the trains run closer to each other.
• The second priority lines are the Highly Used Networks, the third ones are other Passenger High-Density Routes and the final priority is of course to cover all other routes.
• The RDSO has approved three firms -Medha Servo Drives, HBL, and Kernex -for providing Kavach equipment with two more being in the pipeline.
• Glitches about the vulnerability of a vehicle crossing a closed level crossing, stray cattle or boulders on track, radio communication issues in tunnels, and ghat sections have been tackled.

6. Significance of the Kavach System

• The Kavach system will help prevent accidents on rail tracks like collisions of trains.
• Once the system is activated, all trains within a 5-km range will halt to protect trains on adjacent tracks.
• Currently, the loco-pilots or assistant loco-pilots have to look out for caution signs and signals. It will only cost Rs 50 lakh per kilometer to operate in comparison to about Rs 2 crore worldwide.
• It will also include stationary equipment to gather signaling inputs and relay them to a central system to enable seamless communication with the train crew and stations.