Issues and status of the Kavach Signaling System

Source: The post issues and status of the Kavach Signaling System has been created, based on the article “Indian Railways and safety challenges” published in “The Hindu” on 24th June 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3-infrastructure

Context: The article discusses a recent train accident in India involving deaths and injuries. It critiques Indian Railways’ safety practices, the slow implementation of a new signaling system called Kavach, and the need for better management and technology use to prevent future accidents.

For detailed information on The Issue of Indian Railway Safety read this article here

How has Indian Railways improved safety?

1. Track Maintenance: Indian Railways has focused on maintaining tracks better, reducing the risk of accidents.
2. Closing Unmanned Level Crossings: Efforts have been made to close unmanned level crossings, which has decreased accidents.
3. Government Investment: The Union government allocated nearly 25% of its total capital expenditure to railways, ensuring funding for safety improvements.
4. Kavach System: The indigenous Kavach signaling system, designed to prevent collisions, was tested over 1,400 kilometers on the Southern Central Railway and is being implemented on key routes.
5. Prioritizing Safety Roles: Despite issues, Indian Railways has revised recruitment targets for critical safety positions to reduce staff shortages.

What are the issues with railway safety?

1. Insufficient Implementation of Safety Measures: Despite the government allocating nearly 25% of its capex to railways, the implementation of safety measures like the Kavach signaling system has been slow.
2. Miscommunication and Premature Blame: The premature declaration of the cause of accidents by high-level officials leads to misinformation, as seen when the Chairperson of the Railway Board incorrectly announced details about the train crew involved in the accident.
3. Staffing Shortages: There are nearly 20,000 vacancies in critical safety roles like loco pilots, contributing to overwork and potential safety lapses, with only a recent adjustment in recruitment targets following public pressure after the accident.

What is the status of the Kavach Signaling System?

1. Slow Implementation: Kavach, an indigenous signaling system, was chosen over the European ETCS Level II system three years ago.
2. Limited Rollout: Despite successful trials over 1,400 kilometers on the Southern Central Railway, implementation has been slow.
3. Missed Targets: The system is under implementation on the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai sections, but completion targets have been missed.
4. Industry Capacity Issues: The Railway Board Chairperson cited limited industry capacity as a reason for the slow rollout.
5. Safety Recommendations: The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) recommended prioritizing Kavach in Automatic Signaling territories and faster installation in locomotives to prevent collisions.

Way forwards

A statutory inquiry by the CRS is underway to determine the cause and responsibility for the accident. The inquiry should address managerial issues to create a safer railway system. Better management and technology, like the Kavach system, can help prevent future accidents.

Question for practice:

Discuss the progress and challenges of implementing the Kavach signaling system on Indian Railways.