Kavach 4.0 commissioned across 2,633 route km; ₹3,875 crore spent on railway safety works while 514 infrastructure projects worth ₹8.31 lakh crore are underway

Key Highlights

• Indian Railways has utilised ₹1,14,973 crore, around 39% of its ₹2.93 lakh crore budget allocation for 2026-27, till July 2026.
• Kavach 4.0 has been commissioned across 2,633 route kilometres, covering key sections of the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes.
• ₹3,875 crore has been utilised on Kavach works up to June 2026.
• Track-side Kavach implementation has been taken up across 21,794 route kilometres.
• Around 81% of railway tracks have now been upgraded for speeds of 110 kmph and above.
• 514 railway infrastructure projects covering approximately 40,000 km have been sanctioned at an estimated cost of ₹8.31 lakh crore.
• Around six lakh railway employees are trained every year through the Railways’ structured training ecosystem.

New Delhi: Indian Railways Steps Up Safety and Capacity Investments

Indian Railways is accelerating expenditure on safety, modernisation and network capacity, with ₹1,14,973 crore spent up to July 2026, representing about 39% of the ₹2,93,030 crore budget grant for 2026-27.

According to information provided by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha, safety remains a key priority for the national railway network, with expenditure on safety-related activities increasing substantially over the years.

Kavach 4.0 Strengthens Railway Safety

A major focus of the current railway safety programme is Kavach, India’s indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. The technology is designed to assist loco pilots in maintaining specified speed limits and automatically apply brakes if required. It also supports safer train operations during inclement weather.

Kavach was adopted as the national Automatic Train Protection system in July 2020. The latest Kavach Version 4.0, approved by RDSO in July 2024, includes improvements such as greater location accuracy, enhanced information on signal aspects in larger yards, station-to-station interfaces through optical fibre cable and direct interfaces with existing electronic interlocking systems.

As of July 31, 2026, Kavach 4.0 had been successfully commissioned across 2,633 route km, including:

• 1,423 route km on the Delhi-Mumbai route
• 1,210 route km on the Delhi-Howrah route

The Railways has also taken up track-side Kavach implementation across 21,794 route km covering the Golden Quadrilateral, Golden Diagonal, High Density Network and other identified sections.
The expenditure on Kavach works stood at ₹3,875 crore up to June 2026, with ₹2,066 crore allocated for 2026-27.

Rail Network Gets Faster

Alongside safety upgrades, Indian Railways is expanding the speed potential of its network through track, signalling, electrification and rolling-stock improvements.

The share of railway tracks capable of supporting speeds of 110 kmph and above has increased to around 81%. The two major Golden Quadrilateral routes—New Delhi-Mumbai and New Delhi-Howrah—are also being upgraded for speed potential of up to 160 kmph under Mission Raftaar.
The pace of new track commissioning has also increased. Indian Railways commissioned 36,429 km of new track between 2014 and 2026, compared with 7,599 km during 2009-14. The average pace rose from 4.2 km per day to 8.32 km per day.

514 Infrastructure Projects Worth ₹8.31 Lakh Crore

The Railways is also undertaking a large-scale capacity expansion programme.

As of April 1, 2026, 514 infrastructure projects comprising:

• 169 new line projects
• 29 gauge conversion projects
• 316 doubling projects

cover approximately 40,000 km and have a combined sanctioned cost of around ₹8.31 lakh crore.

These projects are expected to strengthen network capacity and improve rail connectivity as additional routes, doubling works and new lines are commissioned.

Six Lakh Railway Employees Trained Every Year

Indian Railways is also strengthening its workforce through structured training, reskilling and professional development.

Around six lakh railway employees are trained annually through Centralised Training Institutes, zonal and divisional training institutes and specialised training centres. Training programmes cover areas including railway operations, safety, freight, logistics, digitalisation and emerging technologies.

The Railways and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya also provide dedicated programmes covering rail operations, commercial management and logistics for organisations and operators involved in the rail-based freight ecosystem.

What It Means for Hospitality, Travel and Tourism

The scale of railway investment has direct relevance for India’s hospitality and tourism ecosystem, particularly because rail remains an important mode of long-distance passenger travel.

Better connectivity can expand destination access

New railway lines, doubling projects and capacity enhancement can improve access to destinations that depend heavily on rail connectivity. For hotels, resorts, restaurants and tourism operators, stronger rail links can potentially widen the catchment area of domestic travellers.

Faster trains can support short-break tourism

The expansion of higher-speed railway sections, including the push towards 160 kmph on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors, could support shorter leisure trips and improve the feasibility of weekend and short-duration travel between major cities and destinations.

Safety strengthens passenger confidence

The expansion of Kavach across major railway corridors is particularly relevant to tourism. A safer and more technology-driven railway network can strengthen passenger confidence, an important factor when travellers choose between destinations and modes of transport.

More rail capacity can support destination growth

The scale of infrastructure investment could also create opportunities for hospitality development around emerging railway-connected destinations. Improved rail access can support demand for hotels, homestays, food and beverage outlets, local experiences, transport services and destination activities.

A stronger logistics network benefits hospitality supply chains

The Railways’ emphasis on freight and logistics training and infrastructure can also have implications for hospitality supply chains. Efficient rail-based logistics can support the movement of food, beverages, equipment and other supplies across regions, particularly as India’s tourism and hospitality markets expand.

The Bigger Picture

Indian Railways’ latest expenditure and infrastructure update points to a simultaneous push on safety, speed, capacity and workforce capability. With ₹1.15 lakh crore already utilised in the first four months of the financial year, alongside major Kavach deployment and a pipeline of 514 infrastructure projects, the railway network is undergoing a broad-based capacity and technology upgrade.

For the hospitality and tourism industry, the most significant takeaway is the potential for better-connected destinations, safer rail journeys and faster inter-city mobility—all of which can influence domestic tourism flows and the growth of hospitality businesses beyond India’s major urban centres.