India’s Railway Revolution: Mission Mode Implementation of Kavach and Vande Bharat Trains

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the mission-mode implementation of India’s indigenous Kavach technology. This initiative, endorsed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to revolutionize the railway sector by improving safety and efficiency. Key developments include track electrification, the introduction of Vande Bharat and Vande Metro trains, and substantial infrastructure investments.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced the mission-mode implementation of modern technology like Kavach, developed domestically, which is set to transform India's railway system. This statement was made during the flagging-off ceremony of three Vande Bharat trains by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

Highlighting the leadership of PM Modi, Vaishnaw noted that India's third-time elected prime minister has brought decisive, visionary, and forward-looking changes affecting various sectors, including railways.

Vaishnaw criticized the historic lack of technological advancements and investment in the Railways, attributing past stagnation to political interference. He praised PM Modi for enhancing investment in the sector by tenfold and promoting the adoption of new technologies. Landmark initiatives include track electrification, the rollout of Vande Bharat and Vande Metro trains, and the deployment of the Kavach anti-collision system.

The minister emphasized the ambitious redevelopment of 1,326 railway stations across the country, considered the largest redevelopment project globally. Kavach, an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, ensures train safety by applying brakes automatically if the loco pilot fails to do so and maintains safe train operation during adverse weather conditions. Calls for its expedited installation have surged following severe train collisions in recent years.

Notable advancements include the addition of 31,180 km of new tracks over the last decade, an expansion more extensive than France's entire rail network. Electrification has also seen a notable boost, with 40,000 km of tracks electrified since 2014 compared to 21,000 km from independence until then.

Vaishnaw also spoke about the new Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and upcoming Vande Sleeper trains, along with the ongoing trials of Vande Metro. The continued expansion of the rail network into regions like Jammu and Kashmir marks a promising future for the country's railways on a global scale.

(With inputs from agencies.)