Mumbai–Delhi high-speed dream on pause: WR insists on full Kavach safety first

Western Railway will allow trains to run at 160 kmph on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-New Delhi corridor only after Kavach is fully installed, ensuring high-speed travel without compromising passenger safety. (PHOTO CREDIT: AI)

The corridor is undergoing advanced track upgrades to handle 160 kmph speeds. However, speed enhancement will only be approved after Kavach activation along the entire route. (PHOTO CREDIT: AI)

Railway officials emphasised that safety comes before speed. High-speed operations without Kavach could expose passengers to severe risks in case of human error. (PHOTO CREDIT: AI)

The Mumbai-New Delhi corridor, spanning 1,384 km, has been identified for 160 kmph operations, with Western Railway covering 694 km from Mumbai Central to Nagda. (PHOTO CREDIT: AI)

The 390 km stretch between Virar and Vadodara is in final stages of track work. Speed is proposed to rise from 130 kmph to 160 kmph once Kavach is activated. (PHOTO CREDIT: AI)

Kavach, meaning “armour,” is an indigenous anti-collision system. It continuously monitors train movement, automatically applying brakes in case of overspeed, collisions, or signal violations. (PHOTO CREDIT: AI)

Kavach provides a technological safety net that reduces risks during fog or low visibility, protecting passengers even when human vigilance may fail. (PHOTO CREDIT: AI)

The system is certified at the highest safety integrity level, with a hazardous-failure probability of less than once in 10,000 years, ensuring maximum reliability. (PHOTO CREDIT: AI)

Installing Kavach costs around Rs 50 lakh per km of track, while each locomotive requires approximately Rs 70 lakh for onboard equipment, reflecting the investment in safety. (PHOTO CREDIT: AI)

Kavach significantly lowers accident risk on high-speed corridors by automatically controlling speed and preventing collisions, ensuring trains can operate safely at 160 kmph. (PHOTO CREDIT: AI)