In response to a recent train crash in Andhra Pradesh that resulted in 14 fatalities and 39 injuries, the Indian Railways is expediting the deployment of safety systems on busy routes to prevent train collisions. However, experts caution that given the vastness of India’s rail network, this endeavor could take up to a decade to complete.
While an inquiry into the accident has been ordered, preliminary reports have suggested that human error played a role in the crash. The incident occurred when the stationary Visakhapatnam-Palasa passenger train was struck from behind by the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada train between the towns of Alamanda and Kantakapalle in Andhra Pradesh. The prevailing theory is that the oncoming passenger train overshot a signal due to human error.
In such cases, anti-collision devices on trains can be instrumental in preventing collisions. The indigenous train collision avoidance system (TCAS), also known as the automatic train protection (ATP) system Kavach, can automatically stop a train if the driver misses or ignores signals and another train is detected on the same track.
However, for Kavach to be effective, it needs to be implemented alongside block signalling and centralized traffic control systems. The crash in Andhra Pradesh has brought the focus back to the need for such safety systems in Indian Railways.
The railways are now planning to float a ₹5,000 crore tender early next year to expedite the adoption of Kavach. This tender includes two segments for Kavach, each covering a 6,000-kilometer network. This is double the size of the 3,000-kilometer tender issued in 2021.
The initial plan was to prioritize high-speed trains on busy routes in sections such as New Delhi-Mumbai and New Delhi-Howrah. The second priority was to install Kavach on trains operating on heavily utilized networks with automatic block signalling and centralized traffic control.
Now, the priority order is set to be fast-tracked, focusing on implementing the anti-collision system on high-density routes where trains frequently operate, and the gap between two trains is often shorter than on other routes.
In addition to Kavach, automatic block signalling is another safety measure that can automatically stop trains if the driver fails to acknowledge a signal. Centralized control would introduce another layer of manual or physical oversight of train operations supported by system checks.
To date, approximately 1,445 kilometers of the network has been equipped with Kavach. The new tenders are expected to expand the initiative throughout the entire railway network, which spans around 70,000 kilometers.
While no specific timeline has been established, even if the railways cover 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers annually with Kavach, the complete network coverage could take approximately a decade. Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw confirmed that all the injured individuals from the Andhra train collision have been relocated to hospitals, and ex-gratia compensation payments have begun, with ₹10 lakh for fatalities, ₹2.5 lakh for grievous injuries, and ₹50,000 for minor injuries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced ex-gratia payments of ₹2 lakh for the families of each deceased person and ₹50,000 for those injured in the accident. The government’s efforts to enhance rail safety are essential to safeguard passengers and the integrity of the railway network, which is one of the largest in the world.