Published on 05 Mar 2025
• The recent Kanchanjunga express train collision in Darjeeling, West Bengal has highlighted the need for installation of the KAVACH system to prevent such tragedies.
• It is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
• Kavach was developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) under Indian Railway (IR) in collaboration with Medha Servo Drives Pvt Ltd, HBL Power Systems Ltd and Kernex Microsystems.
• The Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), with the help of equipment on board the locomotive and transmission towers at stations connected with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, helps in two way communication between the station master and loco-pilot to convey any emergency message.
• 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 (siren) activates by itself when approaching a level crossing which helps loco pilots during fog conditions when visibility is low.
KAVACH
Rail accidents
Railway
Transport
Automatic Train Protection system
Traffic Collision Avoidance System