Kavach 4.0 on slow track amid delays in vendor approvals

THE EXECUTION OF indigenously-developed Kavach—the Indian Railways’ automatic train protection mechanism—is facing delays as approvals for the products compliant with the latest 4.0 version are taking time, an official source told FE.

- MANU KAUSHIK

So far, the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), the research and development wing of the railways that is authorised to approve equipment for Kavach 4.0, has given nod to just one original equipment manufacturer (OEM)—HBL Engineering. "The timely execution of Kavach hinges on version 4.0 compliance approvals. It’s a work in progress. Although there are no technological bottlenecks from the OEM side, the approvals are lagging behind," the official said.