Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has provided a comprehensive update on railway safety, focusing on accident statistics and the deployment of the Kavach safety system in response to questions posed by Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Anand Bhadauria.
The Dhaurahra MP had requested the Minister of Railways to provide detailed information on several key issues related to railway safety. The MP asked for a comprehensive breakdown of railway accidents that occurred between 2022 and 2024, including the number of passengers who died or were injured, detailed by year and zone.
He also sought specifics on the collision of the Kanchanjunga Express with a goods train in Darjeeling district in June 2024, including the number of fatalities and the ex-gratia payments made to the victims’ families.
The MP also inquired about the reasons for the non-installation of the Kavach anti-collision system on all railway routes and trains, and requested a detailed account of the funds allocated, released, and utilised for the Kavach system from 2020 till the year end.
The minister will address these queries in the Lok Sabh today. The written reply to the MP’s questions stated:
Accident Statistics and Safety Improvements
The Minister outlined a dramatic reduction in railway accidents over recent years. From 2000-01, the number of consequential train accidents has decreased from 473 to just 40 in 2023-24. This decline is attributed to enhanced safety measures and improved operational protocols.
Historical data reveals a substantial reduction in average annual accidents—from 171 per year between 2004 and 2014 to 68 per year from 2014 to 2024. The metric for Accidents Per Million Train Kilometer (APMTKM) has seen a remarkable improvement, dropping from 0.65 in 2000-01 to a mere 0.03 in 2023-24, reflecting a more than 95% enhancement in safety, it said.
Details on Kanchanjunga Express Collision
Vaishnaw reported that the collision between the Kanchanjunga Express and a goods train in Darjeeling district on June 17, 2024, resulted in the death of eight passengers. The Indian Railways has provided Rs 10 lakh each for the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakh for those grievously injured, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries. As of July 16, 2024, a total of Rs. 1.70 crore has been disbursed as ex-gratia payments.
Kavach System Deployment and Progress
The Kavach system, an advanced Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system developed domestically, has been partially implemented across the Indian Railways network. To date, Kavach has been installed on 1465 route kilometers and 144 locomotives, including Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) rakes, primarily on the South Central Railway zone. The system is designed to enhance safety by automatically applying brakes if the loco pilot fails to adhere to speed limits or if the train encounters inclement weather conditions.
The implementation process involves several critical steps:
- Station Kavach Installation: Equipment is installed at every railway station.
- RFID Tags: Tags are placed along the track length.
- Telecom Towers: Towers are erected throughout the railway sections.
- Optical Fibre Cables: Cables are laid along the tracks.
- Loco Kavach: Each locomotive is equipped with Kavach devices.
On major corridors such as Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah, significant progress has been made, including the laying of 4275 kilometers of optical fibre cables, installation of 364 telecom towers, and provision of Kavach equipment at 285 stations and 319 locomotives. Trackside Kavach equipment has been installed over 1384 route kilometers.
Funding and Future Plans
As of now, the Indian Railways has utilised Rs 1216.77 crore for the Kavach system’s development and implementation. The allocated budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year is Rs 1112.57 crore. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) and Detailed Estimates for another 6000 route kilometers have been prepared, with Kavach 4.0 specifications approved by RDSO on July 16, 2024. This latest version of Kavach includes advanced features tailored for the diverse needs of the Indian Railways network, marking a significant milestone in railway safety.
