On March 22, 2026, Indian Railways successfully commissioned the indigenous Kavach Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system on the 190 km Prayagraj–Kanpur section. This is a vital part of the Delhi–Howrah high-density corridor.

Key Highlights of the Update:

  • Speed Boost: This installation is a prerequisite for Mission Raftaar, which aims to increase train speeds to 160 kmph on this route.
  • Phase 1 Rollout: Initially, eight pairs of trains will operate with Kavach on this section, including the Prayagraj Express, Varanasi–New Delhi Express, and Chauri Chaura Express.
  • Validation: The system was activated via Train No. 14163. Before this launch, over 20,000 kilometres of passenger trial runs were completed to ensure 100% reliability.
  • Total Coverage: With this addition, Kavach 4.0 is now operational across 1,452 route kilometres in India, covering major parts of the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah corridors.

🛠️ What is Kavach 4.0?

Kavach (meaning “Armour”) is India’s own technology developed to prevent train collisions. It is certified at SIL-4 (Safety Integrity Level 4), the highest global safety standard.

Core Functions:

  1. Automatic Braking: If the loco pilot fails to react to a “Red” signal, the system applies brakes automatically.
  2. Over-speeding Control: It prevents the train from exceeding the speed limit set for a specific track.
  3. Collision Avoidance: It prevents head-on, rear-end, and side-on collisions by communicating between two Kavach-equipped locomotives.
  4. Fog Assistance: It provides real-time signal information inside the driver’s cabin, which is essential during low visibility in Northern India.

📅 The 2026 Roadmap

The Ministry of Railways has set an “aggressive” target to complete Kavach installation on the entire Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah routes by the end of 2026.

  • Next Phase: Work is moving to the Ghaziabad–Tundla section.
  • Locomotive Upgrades: Tenders have been floated to equip over 9,000 more locomotives with the Kavach 4.0 hardware.
  • Upcoming Kavach 5.0: A new version designed specifically for suburban networks (like Mumbai Locals) is expected to begin trials soon to reduce the time gap between trains safely.