Rail travel in India is getting a boost in safety with every new contract for the Kavach system. The latest big move? Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has won an order worth ₹22.87 crore (about ₹23 crore) to supply and install Kavach equipment for South Western Railway.
This deal includes design, development, supply, installation, trial and commissioning of both on-board Kavach units (in locomotives) and track-side equipment (at stations, level crossings [LC], automatic block sensors [ABS] etc.). It’s to be carried out from BHEL’s Bengaluru plant, and the work is expected to be completed in 18 months.
What Is Kavach & Why It’s Important
“Kavach” is India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) / Train Collision Avoidance System. Its aim is to reduce the risk of human error by automatically enforcing safety functions like:
- Preventing trains from passing signals at danger (SPAD)
- Automatically applying brakes in emergencies
- Regulating train speed in risky zones
- Giving drivers better signal information, even during poor visibility (fog, night etc.)
Thanks to existing Kavach deployment, Indian Railways has already seen a significant decline in train accidents. Important safety metrics like “accidents per million train-kilometre” have improved by about 73%.
How BHEL’s Deal Adds Value
The ₹23 crore order to BHEL adds strength in several ways:
- Expansion of Safety Coverage
The deal includes deploying Kavach in both locomotives and track-side equipment along parts of South Western Railway. It means more routes will be protected. - Local Manufacturing & Faster Rollout
Since BHEL will produce the equipment in its Bengaluru plant, it supports domestic production and may reduce delays in supply. Local sourcing can help roll out safety enhancements more quickly. - Trial & Commissioning in 18 Months
The relatively short timeline means Indian Railways is pushing for faster implementation. The sooner Kavach is operational, the sooner it can prevent potential accidents. - Trackside & Onboard Integration
Combining on-board equipment (in the locomotive) with station, crossing, LC, and ABS infrastructure makes Kavach more effective — safety is multi-layered.
Broader Impact on Passenger Travel
For passengers, this deal means:
- Greater safety on routes where Kavach gets installed
- Fewer head-on or rear-end collision risks
- More confidence in train travel, even in bad weather or low visibility
- A safer, more modern railway network
Also, as Kavach spreads, tools like app-based train timetable checks, live train status, and schedule planning can work in tandem with Kavach-enabled routes to give passengers more peace of mind.
Challenges and What to Watch
No safety system is without challenges. Some areas to watch:
- Implementation complexity: installing track-side equipment, laying optical fibre, ensuring proper signal integration etc. requires meticulous work.
- Training: engine pilots, station staff etc. need to fully adapt to using Kavach effectively.
- Scale: Though deals like BHEL’s help, Kavach still needs much wider rollout to cover most routes.
Stay Updated with RailMitra
While Indian Railways is taking big steps to enhance safety with systems like Kavach, passengers can make their journeys even smoother by staying informed. RailMitra helps you check any train schedule, live train status, PNR updates, and seat availability — all in one place. With real-time updates, you can plan your trip better and avoid last-minute hassles.
Conclusion
BHEL’s ₹23 Crore Kavach contract is not just a business deal—it’s a step forward in making Indian railways safer. As part of a larger program to roll out Kavach nationwide, this move strengthens protection, local manufacturing, and sped-up deployment. For everyday travellers, this means one more reason to feel safer on trains.