Indian Railways Approves 381 Crore Safety and Infrastructure Projects

The Ministry of Railways approved two infrastructure projects totaling 381 crore to enhance safety and maintenance capabilities. The primary initiative is a 206 crore project to deploy Kavach Version 4.0, an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, across 680 route kilometres of the Northern Railway's Delhi Division. This rollout covers the Rewari-Delhi and Shakurbasti-Bathinda sections, including feeder branch lines.

Kavach Version 4.0 is designed to prevent train collisions and Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) incidents by automatically applying brakes and monitoring train movements, including during dense fog. The updated version introduces optical fibre cable communication, improved signal information for complex stations, and enhanced position accuracy. The Research Designs and Standards Organisation approved the version following safety assessments and operational experience.

Alongside the safety upgrades, the ministry sanctioned a 175 crore project to expand maintenance infrastructure in Raipur. This involves creating homing facilities for 250 three-phase electric locomotives at the High Horse Power Diesel Shed under the South East Central Railway. Together, these projects aim to improve operational efficiency and support the growing volume of passenger and freight traffic.