Indian Railways has dispatched its first locomotive fitted with Kavach, the country’s indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, marking a major milestone in India’s push toward advanced rail safety and signalling modernisation.
The newly equipped locomotive has been rolled out from the manufacturing unit after completing integration and system-level testing. Kavach is designed to prevent collisions by automatically controlling train speed, enforcing signal compliance, and initiating braking in case the crew fails to respond to warnings. The system uses radio communication, GPS-based tracking, and onboard equipment to create a continuous safety shield around the train.
According to railway officials, the deployment reflects the government’s plan to expand Kavach coverage across high-density and high-speed routes. Indian Railways has already awarded contracts for the next phase of implementation, which will cover thousands of kilometres on the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah corridors.
With the first locomotive now operating with the indigenous ATP technology, Railways aims to accelerate production and fleet integration in the coming months. The scaling up of Kavach installation is expected to significantly enhance operational safety, reduce the risk of accidents, and support the broader mission of modernising India’s railway infrastructure.
The rollout also reinforces India’s ambitions of developing homegrown technologies for critical transportation systems, reducing import dependence and strengthening domestic expertise in signalling and safety solutions.
