Kavach 4.0 commissioned on 1,452 route km of Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes
The Railway Ministry said on 11 March 2026 that version 4.0 of Kavach, India's indigenous automatic train protection system, has been commissioned on 1,452 route km covering the high-density Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes.
Summary
Kavach 4.0, the latest version of Indian Railways' indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, has been commissioned on 1,452 route km covering the high-density Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on 11 March 2026. Trackside Kavach work has been taken up on 24,427 route km, covering the entire Golden Quadrilateral, Golden Diagonals and high-density network; so far 8,570 km of optical fibre, 1,100 towers and 767 station data centres have been set up. Kavach applies the brakes automatically if the loco pilot fails to keep within speed limits and is certified to Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL-4). It was adopted as the National ATP system in July 2020, and the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) approved the version 4.0 specification on 16 July 2024. Railway safety spending has risen from ₹39,200 crore in 2013–14 to ₹1,20,389 crore in 2026–27.
Key facts
- Announced
- 11 March 2026, Railway Ministry
- Commissioned
- Kavach 4.0 on 1,452 route km — Delhi–Mumbai, Delhi–Howrah
- Taken up
- 24,427 route km (GQ, Golden Diagonals, HDN)
- Built so far
- 8,570 km OFC; 1,100 towers; 767 station data centres
- Static
- National ATP system since July 2020; SIL-4; v4.0 spec approved by RDSO 16 July 2024
- Safety spend
- ₹39,200 cr (2013–14) → ₹1,20,389 cr (2026–27)
Practice MCQs 3 questions
On how many route km has Kavach 4.0 been commissioned, as per the Railway Ministry on 11 March 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1,452 route km
Kavach 4.0 is commissioned on 1,452 route km of the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes; 24,427 route km is the length on which work has been taken up.
Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned on sections of which two high-density routes?
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Correct answer: B — Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah
The 1,452 route km cover the high-density Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes.
Consider the following statements about Kavach: 1. It was adopted as the National Automatic Train Protection system in July 2020. 2. The Kavach version 4.0 specification was approved by the RDSO in July 2024. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct: Kavach became the National ATP system in July 2020, and the RDSO approved the version 4.0 specification on 16 July 2024; the system is certified to SIL-4.