Kavach to boost safety in Indian Railways
Railway Minister informed that “Kavach” technology is now ready for nationwide implementation and 4,000-5,000 km of railway route will be brought under indigenous technology “Kavach” annually.
- The Railway Minister inspected the trial run of “Kavach” between Gullaguda-Chitgidda railway stations.
- Kavach is an indigenously developed Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS).
- It is a set of electronic components and radio frequency identification (FD) devices. It is used on locomotives, signaling systems and tracks.
- These devices communicate with each other using ultra-high radio frequencies to control the brakes of trains and alert drivers.
Key Features of ‘Kavach’:
- When a train passes a red signal due to human error, this system automatically activates and applies the brakes on the train. Thus, this system also avoids collisions due to sudden face-to-face trains.
- Under this system, before the oncoming level crossing, the hooter is triggered automatically. This helps the loco-pilots (i.e. train drivers) in case of poor visibility in foggy conditions.
- Where the railway line crosses the road, it is called level crossing.
- On a curved bend or crossing bridges, the speed of the train is automatically reduced to the prescribed limit.
- It is being developed since the year 2012. It has been developed by Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) in collaboration with Indian industry. .It has been tested in South Central Railway.
Other initiatives taken for safety in Railways:
- elimination of unmanned level crossings,
- Online monitoring of rolling stock (all types of trains),
- Adoption of Link Hoffmann Busch coach system for the safety of rail passengers, etc.
Source – The Hindu
