Kavach System: Rail Safety Strengthened Between Virar and Vadodara, New ‘Kavach’ Commissioned; Suburban Section to Get It Soon

Mumbai: Travel between Virar and Vadodara has become significantly safer as the Western Railway has successfully commissioned the Kavach train protection system on this 344-kilometer section. This key route connects Mumbai’s suburban network with Gujarat and northern India and is used daily by hundreds of passenger and freight trains. Officials revealed that the project cost approximately ₹397 crore, and the Surya Nagari Express was the first train to operate under the new system.

Mumbai Suburban Section to Be Upgraded Soon
Work on the Vadodara–Surat–Virar section began in January 2023 and has now been completed. Earlier, the Kavach system was already implemented on the Vadodara–Ahmedabad section. With this, Western Railway now has a total of 435 kilometers covered under Kavach. Plans are underway to extend the system to Mumbai’s suburban section between Virar and Mumbai Central.

Extensive Safety Infrastructure Installed
To enhance safety across the route, over 8,000 RFID tags have been installed along the tracks, enabling real-time monitoring of train locations and speeds. Additionally, 57 radio towers and optical fiber cables have been deployed to improve communication between stations and locomotives.

Benefits of the Kavach System
The Kavach system helps prevent signal violations, overspeeding, and both head-on and rear-end collisions. Even in fog, rain, or adverse weather conditions, the system provides signal information directly to the locomotive driver in the cabin, reducing the risk of accidents. Currently, Kavach has been activated on WAP-7 locomotives, with 364 engines already equipped. Work on the Vadodara–Nagda section is expected to be completed by March 2026, while the Virar–Mumbai Central section is targeted for completion by September 2026.

Key Details of the Commissioned Kavach Section:

• Section: Virar – Vadodara, 344 km
• Total Kavach-covered WR route: 435 km
• Project cost: ₹397 crore
• RFID tags installed: 8,000+
• Radio towers installed: 57
• Kavach-equipped locomotives: 364

Advantages of the Kavach System:

• Prevents train collisions
• Controls overspeeding
• Prevents signal violations
• Safe operation in fog and rain
• Provides signal information to the driver in the cabin

The implementation of Kavach marks a major step forward in railway safety, promising safer travel for thousands of passengers and smoother operations for freight trains along this critical corridor.