Indigenous train protection system to strengthen rail safety, improve reliability and support tourism connectivity across Odisha and neighbouring regions

Key Highlights

• Indian Railways has sanctioned ₹270 crore for the deployment of Kavach on 631 route kilometres (RKm) of the East Coast Railway.
• The project will cover six key railway sections across Odisha and neighbouring regions.
• Kavach is India’s indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
• The technology helps prevent Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) incidents, over-speeding and train collisions.
• The system improves operational safety, punctuality and train movement during adverse weather conditions such as dense fog.
• The project forms part of Indian Railways’ nationwide expansion of Kavach across high-density routes.

Indian Railways Expands Kavach Safety Network on East Coast Railway

New Delhi, June 22, 2026: Continuing its nationwide railway safety modernisation programme, Indian Railways has approved a ₹270 crore project to deploy the indigenous Kavach train protection system across 631 route kilometres of the East Coast Railway.

The project will strengthen operational safety on six important railway sections:

• Baghuapal–Budhapank
• Haridaspur–Paradeep
• Khurda Road–Balangir
• Naupada–Gunupur
• Lanjigarh Road–Junagarh
• Bobbili–Salur

The deployment forms part of Indian Railways’ larger initiative to expand Kavach using an LTE-based communication backbone across the national rail network.

Indigenous Technology to Improve Rail Safety

Kavach is India’s indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system that continuously monitors train operations and automatically intervenes whenever safety risks are detected.

The system is designed to prevent:

• Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) incidents.
• Train collisions.
• Over-speeding.
• Human errors during train operations.

It also enables safer train movement during low-visibility conditions such as dense fog, improving punctuality and operational reliability for both passenger and freight services.

The latest approval further strengthens Indian Railways’ long-term strategy of expanding Kavach coverage across high-density and strategically important corridors.

Hospitality & Tourism Impact

Although primarily a railway safety initiative, the expansion of Kavach enhances the overall travel experience by improving reliability, punctuality and passenger confidence. The East Coast Railway serves several important tourism destinations across Odisha and neighbouring states, including religious, heritage, coastal and eco-tourism circuits.

Safer and more dependable rail services can encourage greater domestic tourism, benefiting hotels, restaurants, travel operators and local businesses that depend on visitor traffic. Improved operational efficiency also supports business travel and logistics, contributing to regional economic development while reinforcing Indian Railways’ commitment to building a safer and more resilient transport network.

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