Reason for Prominence in the News
The recent rail accident in Balasore, Odisha, where three trains collided, has once again highlighted the challenges faced by India’s railway services. The tragic incident, on June 2, 2023, at Bahanaga Bazar railway station in the Balasore district underscored the urgent need for effective safety measures to prevent such devastating accidents.
The collision involved the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train, resulting in the loss of at least 275 lives and over 900 injuries.
Classification of Train Accidents and CAG Report
The Railway Board classifies train accidents into two categories: Consequential Train Accidents, which have significant repercussions such as loss of life, human injury, property damage, and disruption to railway traffic, and Other Train Accidents, which encompass accidents not falling under the consequential category.
In a 2022 report on ‘Derailments in Indian Railways,’ the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) pointed out various shortcomings related to the causes of train accidents in the country. The report also assessed the performance of the Railway Safety and Standards Board (RRSK), established in 2017-18, with a corpus of Rs 1 lakh crore to strengthen safety measures and prevent accidents on the rail network.
Understanding KAVACH
KAVACH, formerly known as the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), is India’s indigenous automatic train protection system. Under development since 2012, KAVACH is a collection of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices installed in locomotives, signalling systems, and tracks.
These devices use ultra-high radio frequencies to control train brakes and alert drivers based on programmed logic. The system incorporates elements from established systems like the European Train Protection and Warning System and the indigenous Anti Collision Device. KAVACH is Safety Integrity Level 4 certified, boasting an error probability of 1 in 10,000 years.
Future Enhancements and Export Potential
India aims to enhance KAVACH further by incorporating features of the European Train Control System Level-2 and eventually making it exportable. The system is positioned as an affordable alternative to popular European systems globally.
Efforts are underway to make KAVACH compatible with 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, with plans to introduce it to global markets. Work is also being done to ensure compatibility with other existing systems worldwide.
How KAVACH Works
Developed by the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO), KAVACH facilitates two-way communication between the station master and the loco-pilot through RFID-tagged transmission towers at stations. The system notifies the loco-pilot of signals and permissible speeds in advance.
In case of jumping a red signal and potential collisions, KAVACH automatically engages emergency brakes. It also activates a Hooter while approaching level crossings, which is essential during limited visibility conditions like fog. The system allows for SoS messages during emergencies and enables central live monitoring of train movements.
Safety and Cost Advantages
The KAVACH system significantly enhances rail track safety, preventing accidents like train collisions. When activated, all trains within a 5-kilometre radius halt to safeguard trains on adjacent tracks.
The system is cost-effective, with an operational cost of Rs 50 lakh per kilometre compared to approximately Rs 2 crore globally. It includes stationary equipment that collects signalling inputs and relays them to a central system for seamless communication with train crews and stations.
Conclusion
Given the recent tragic rail accidents and the imperative to enhance railway safety, the speedy implementation of the KAVACH project on the Howrah-Chennai line across multiple railway zones is crucial. The demonstration of the KAVACH railway system involving the Indian Railway minister and the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board indicates the government’s commitment to improving rail safety in India.
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