First Kavach-equipped locomotive flagged off from ELS-Visakhapatnam

In a major step towards strengthening safety on Indian Railways, the first locomotive fitted with Kavach — an indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) — was commissioned and flagged off from the Electric Loco Shed (ELS), Visakhapatnam, on Tuesday.

Developed under the “Make in India” initiative, Kavach aims to achieve zero-accident train operations. The system relays real-time signal information into the loco pilot’s cab and facilitates secure wireless communication between locomotives and station interlocking systems. RFID tags laid on the track provide accurate train positioning.

Divisional Railway Manager of Waltair Division, Lalit Bohra, inaugurated the station Kavach facility and flagged off the first Kavach-equipped WAP-7 locomotive. With this, ELS/Visakhapatnam became the first electric loco shed in East Coast Railway to operationalise the technology. A 600-metre Kavach-compatible test track and station facility have been established to support trials. In all, 186 locomotives from the shed are to be fitted with the system.

Railway officials said Kavach offers multiple layers of safety, including automatic braking to prevent head-on collisions, safeguards against signal disregard and over speeding, encrypted wireless data exchange, and automatic regulation of train speed.

The initiative has been welcomed by passengers in the city. “We often read about accidents caused by overshooting signals or human error. Knowing that a system like Kavach is in place makes us feel more secure about train journeys,” said P. Ramalakshmi, a daily commuter.

For frequent travellers, the focus was on both speed and safety. “If Kavach can prevent collisions and allow trains to run faster, it will be a huge confidence boost for passengers like us who depend on trains every week,” observed K. Sandeep, a software engineer.

For some, the focus was on public trust. Retired schoolteacher V. Anjaneyulu noted that Indian Railways is the “lifeline for millions” and innovations like Kavach reassure the public that safety is being prioritised. Local trader S. Rahman pointed to the economic benefits, saying that accidents disrupt business along railway routes, and any technology that prevents them helps entire communities.

Loco pilots too expressed optimism. A senior WAP-7 pilot at ELS Visakhapatnam said Kavach offered “an additional layer of assurance” in case of fatigue or lapses. Another pilot highlighted the operational benefits, noting that in-cab signal updates would allow smoother operations and greater confidence in running trains at higher speeds.