Bhubaneswar: Indian Railways has approved a Rs 270-crore project to deploy the indigenous train protection system, Kavach, across 631 km in East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone, in a major push to strengthen operational safety and improve reliability on key rail corridors in Odisha and neighbouring regions.The project will cover six sections under ECoR- Baghuapal-Budhapank, Haridaspur-Paradip, Khurda Road-Balangir, Naupada-Gunupur, Lanjigarh Road-Junagarh and Bobbili-Salur. These routes handle a mix of passenger and freight traffic and are considered important for regional connectivity and economic activity, said an official statement issued by the ministry of railways on Monday.The sanctioned work is part of Indian Railways’ nationwide programme to expand Kavach, the country’s indigenously developed automatic train protection (ATP) system, backed by an LTE-based communication network. The technology is designed to prevent signal-passing-at-danger (SPAD) incidents, over-speeding and potential collisions by continuously monitoring train movement and automatically applying brakes when required, official sources said.Railway officials said installation of Kavach would add an extra layer of safety to train operations by enabling automatic intervention during critical situations. The system is expected to significantly reduce human error-related risks and enhance the overall safety framework of the railway network.Apart from improving safety, Kavach is also expected to enhance operational efficiency. The technology facilitates safer train movement during adverse weather conditions, including dense fog, when visibility is often poor. This can help improve punctuality and reduce disruptions to services, said the ministry’s official statement.The deployment is likely to benefit both passenger and freight operations on strategically important routes across Odisha and adjoining states. Freight-heavy sections such as Haridaspur-Paradip, which serve industrial and port-linked traffic, are expected to gain from improved operational reliability, official sources said.With the latest approval, ECoR joins the growing network of railway zones where Kavach is being progressively rolled out. “The move aligns with Indian Railways’ broader objective of expanding the indigenous safety system across high-density and critical routes to create a safer, more efficient and technologically advanced rail network,” said the official sources.
