Nagpur: Central Railway’s Nagpur Division has achieved a major safety milestone with the dispatch of the first locomotive fitted with the indigenous Automatic Train Protection System (ATPS) “KAVACH” from Electric Loco Shed, Ajni. This marks a significant step toward Indian Railways’ mission of strengthening operational safety and eliminating collisions.

Developed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, KAVACH is an advanced Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) certified with the highest global safety standard SIL-4. Locomotive WAG-9 No. 31104 is the first at Ajni to receive this technology, initiating the planned installation in 312 three-phase locomotives at the shed.

KAVACH enhances safety through automatic braking when another train is detected within a specified distance, preventing potential collisions. It also provides overspeed protection, continuous monitoring of train movement, and displays signal aspects directly inside the locomotive cab. The system blows the horn automatically at level crossings and enables trains to be stopped anywhere through an SOS command, adding an additional layer of safety.

Before dispatch, the locomotive underwent stringent testing on a dedicated track inside the shed, ensuring seamless communication between Station TCAS and Loco TCAS units essential for safe operations.

With the upcoming installation of KAVACH in all 312 locomotives, Central Railway is committed to delivering safer, smarter, and accident-free train operations for passengers across India.