MNCs Granted Approval for Deploying Advanced Train Collision Avoidance System on Indian Railways

In a historic move, the Indian government has granted approval to two multinational corporations, Siemens AG from Germany and Kyosan Electric Manufacturing Co from Japan, to deploy the automatic train collision avoidance system known as Kavach on the Indian Railways. This marks a significant expansion of the initiative, which was previously undertaken by three Indian companies—Medha Servo Drives, HBL Power Systems, and Kernex Microsystems.

Deployment Expansion

Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced in New Delhi that the deployment of the Kavach system is set to increase from the current 1,500 km per annum to an impressive 5,000 km per annum by 2025-26. This substantial boost in deployment capacity is expected to enhance the country’s capability to implement Kavach, an indigenously developed open-source technology.

Technology Overview

Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that companies interested in deploying Kavach must adhere to the specifications provided by the Indian Railways. The Kavach system is an automatic train collision avoidance technology that acts as a crucial safety measure for the national transporter.

Recent Progress and Future Plans

Tenders to install Kavach over 3,000 km were awarded in December of the previous year, and progress is reportedly on schedule, with 98% of the radio survey on the designated routes already completed. The minister disclosed that bids for installing Kavach on an additional 2,500 km of the railway network will soon be awarded.

Next-Generation Kavach

 Minister Vaishnaw revealed that the upcoming generation of Kavach will incorporate Long-Term Evolution (LTE), commonly known as 4G and 5G technology. He outlined plans for two tenders to be awarded in the next fiscal year—one for upgrading existing Kavach networks and another for deploying the advanced technology over longer railway routes.

Important Questions to Exams

Q: What is the significance of the recent approval granted to Siemens AG and Kyosan Electric Manufacturing Co for deploying the Kavach system on Indian Railways?

A: This marks a historic milestone as it is the first time that multinational corporations have been allowed to deploy the automatic train collision avoidance system, Kavach, on the Indian Railways. The collaboration signifies a broader effort to enhance safety measures and technological advancements within the national transportation system.

Q: How does the approval impact the deployment scale of the Kavach system on Indian Railways?

A: The approval is set to significantly increase the deployment scale of the Kavach system. The current rate of 1,500 km per annum is expected to rise to an impressive 5,000 km per annum by 2025-26. This expansion is crucial for improving the country’s capability to implement Kavach, which is an indigenously developed open-source technology.

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