Indian Railways Sanctions ₹1,364 Crore for Kavach Deployment and Signalling Modernisation

Safety-focused upgrades include Kavach installation, OFC backbone expansion and electronic interlocking across multiple railway zones Key Highlights ₹1,364.45 crore approved for safety and signalling projects Kavach Version 4.0 to be installed on 232 locomotives in Southern Railway Optical fibre communication upgrades across 3,200+ km in Northern Railway 2,196 route km OFC network planned in North Central Railway Electronic interlocking at 49 stations in South Central Railway Major Safety Push Across Railway Network Indian Railways has approved projects worth ₹1,364.45 crore aimed at strengthening safety, signalling and communication infrastructure across multiple zones. The initiatives focus on expanding the indigenous Kavach train protection system, upgrading communication backbone networks and modernising interlocking systems to reduce manual intervention. Kavach Installation on Southern Railway Locomotives An allocation of ₹208.81 crore has been sanctioned for installation of onboard Kavach Version 4.0 equipment on 232 locomotives in Southern Railway. The project is part of a larger umbrella programme for deployment of Kavach with Long-Term Evolution (LTE) communication backbone across Indian Railways. Communication Backbone Upgrade in Northern Railway Indian Railways has approved works worth ₹400.86 crore to strengthen the optical fibre communication network across Northern Railway. The project involves deployment of 2×48 fibre cable infrastructure across Ambala, Delhi and Lucknow divisions, covering more than 3,200 route kilometres. These upgrades are expected to improve signalling reliability and support Kavach deployment. OFC Network for North Central Railway A separate project worth ₹176.76 crore has been sanctioned for installation of 2×48 fibre OFC cables across 2,196 route kilometres in North Central Railway. The coverage includes Prayagraj, Jhansi and Agra divisions and aims to enhance communication infrastructure along high-density corridors. Electronic Interlocking in South Central Railway To improve operational safety, Indian Railways has approved ₹578.02 crore for replacing panel interlocking systems with electronic interlocking at 49 stations in South Central Railway. The upgrade will cover 35 stations in Guntakal Division and 14 stations in Nanded Division, helping reduce manual intervention and enhance signalling reliability. Focus on Modernisation and Safety These sanctioned projects form part of Indian Railways’ broader effort to modernise signalling infrastructure, expand indigenous safety technologies and strengthen communication networks. The initiatives are expected to improve operational efficiency, enhance reliability and ensure safer train operations across high-density routes.