NEW DELHI | December 30, 2025In a major boost to rail safety and indigenous technology, the Ministry of Railways has officially commissioned the Kavach 4.0 Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system on the 96-km Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad section in Gujarat. This milestone marks the first implementation of the 4.0 variant in the state, covering 17 stations with a robust infrastructure of 23 towers, 192 km of optical fiber cable, and nearly 3,000 RFID tags.
The system made its debut on this route via the Sankalp Fast Passenger, powered by WAP-7 locomotives. Certified to the elite Safety Integrity Level–4 (SIL-4), Kavach 4.0 is designed to eliminate human error by automatically applying brakes to prevent Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), enforcing speed restrictions, and protecting against head-on or rear-end collisions, even in adverse weather conditions.
The rollout of Kavach 4.0 represents a significant technological leap over previous versions, featuring enhanced location accuracy and seamless integration with existing electronic interlocking systems. With over 2,200 route kilometers now covered under the Kavach umbrella nationwide, this latest deployment underscores the Indian Railways’ commitment to creating a “smarter and safer” network.
Beyond collision avoidance, the system introduces advanced features like automatic whistling at level crossings and an emergency SOS facility. By utilizing made-in-India technology to meet global safety standards, the Ministry of Railways continues to modernize the nation’s high-density rail corridors while ensuring maximum operational reliability for millions of passengers.
