East Coast Railway Flags Off First Freight Locomotive Equipped with Indigenous KAVACH System

The Waltair division of the East Coast Railway today flagged off its first freight locomotive (WAG9HC) equipped with the indigenous KAVACH Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) at the Diesel Loco Shed, Visakhapatnam (DLS/VSKP). Divisional Railway Manager, Waltair, Lalit Bohra, led the launch, with Senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer (Diesel) M.K. Sahoo and other railway officials in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Bohra said, “The introduction of KAVACH on freight locomotives is a major milestone in enhancing operational safety. This system will provide real-time signal information to our loco pilots, helping prevent accidents and ensuring safer journeys across the network.”

KAVACH is an indigenously developed safety system that communicates data between station interlocking systems and locomotives via a secure wireless network. Track-installed RFID tags allow precise positioning of trains. “The system’s automatic protection against head-on collisions and signal-related accidents reflects our commitment to modernizing rail operations without compromising safety,” said Sahoo.

For Phase 1 commissioning, the Diesel Loco Shed has received 123 KAVACH units. A dedicated “station KAVACH” and a 500-meter test track have been established for system testing.

Railway officials said the launch of KAVACH marks a significant step forward in Indian Railways’ efforts to improve safety standards and operational efficiency. Bohra added, “With KAVACH, we are taking a proactive approach to prevent accidents, ensuring that our rail network is modern, safe, and reliable for both passengers and freight operations.”