Kavach safety system to be implemented on Thiruvananthapuram–Ernakulam–Shoranur rail route

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kavach safety system will soon be introduced on the Ernakulam–Shoranur railway route. This will be the first section in Kerala where the Kavach safety system is being implemented. The contract to carry out the project has been awarded to the joint venture between Kerala Rail Development Corporation (K-Rail) and SS Rail. The estimated cost of the project is ₹105.80 crore, and the contract stipulates completion within 18 months.

The project covers 106.8 km, from Ernakulam South to Shoranur Junction, according to V Ajith Kumar, Director of Business Development and Finance and in-charge MD of K-Rail. This new initiative follows the installation of automatic signalling systems from Ernakulam to Vallathol Nagar. The automatic signalling project is being jointly implemented by K-Rail and RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited).

Kavach, developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) for Indian Railways, is designed to prevent train collisions. It incorporates sensors, GPS technology, and communication systems, enabling real-time detection of potential collisions and automatic intervention to avoid them. As part of the project, telecom towers and optical fibre cables will also be installed along the entire route.