LUCKNOW: North Central Railway (NCR) has achieved a major milestone in railway safety with the successful commissioning of Kavach Version 4.0, the indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System, on the 207-km Tundla–Panki Dham section.The upgraded system now supports train operations at speeds of up to 130 kmph and has increased the total Kavach Version 4.0 coverage across NCR to 652 route km.Successful trial runs were conducted using the Kanpur Shatabdi Express and Sikkim Mahananda Express, both equipped with the Kernex-built Kavach system.One of the key achievements of the project was the successful integration of Kavach with the Hitachi Electronic Interlocking System without any operational issues, demonstrating the technical capabilities of the railway’s signalling and telecommunication teams.The project includes Kavach installations at 39 stations, commissioning of 10 WAP-7 locomotives, installation of more than 4,600 RFID tags, construction of 17 communication towers, laying of 48-core optical fibre cable, and setting up of 30 dedicated equipment rooms.Before commissioning, the system underwent extensive testing and validation by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), NCR and ISA Italcertifier. More than 10,000 km of trials and several safety tests confirmed its ability to prevent Signal Passed At Danger (SPAD) incidents and reduce the risk of head-on and rear-end collisions.The commissioning of Kavach Version 4.0 on this crucial section of the Delhi–Howrah corridor is expected to enhance railway safety and support faster train operations.
