New Delhi (05.03.2022): The Indian Railways has drawn up a massive Rs 34,000 crore safety upgrade of its network that involves deployment of an automatic train protection system - Kavach.

Plans for the deployment of the system along 34,000 route kilometres have been included in the railway works programme of 2020-21 and 2021-22. It will now be expanded to the rest of the rail network. "Tenders for deployment of Kavach across the entire 68,446 RKM will be issued in two years. The project will be completed in the next five years," a senior rail ministry official said.

The cost of Project Kavach is Rs 50 lakh per kilometre, a fourth compared with Rs two crore that similar enhanced safety measures cost in other parts of the world.

The lower cost will also help Indian vendors compete in the global market for deployment of these technologies. "There is demand for such a system from North America, South America, Malaysia and Taiwan among others," the official added. At Rs 50 lakh per kilometre, the total outlay for the deployment is roughly Rs 34,000 crore. This move is aimed at ensuring safer rail travel while minimizing collisions and accidents.