Kavach sanctioned for over 70% SCR network

‘Kavach’ – the indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system has been sanctioned across SCR – South Central Railway, for 4,655 Rkm which is more than 70% of the network. This includes tenders for upgrading Kavach version 3.2 to 4.0 over 1,400 Rkm and new installations on 1,618 Rkm, informed General Manager Sanjay Kumar Srivastava on Friday.

The GM said that to ensure safety and increase sectional capacity, commissioning of Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) too is moving fast between April and July of the current fiscal year with 81 Rkm commissioned in various sections.

For additional safety at level crossing gates, interlocking systems are being installed at all manned ones where vehicular movement exceeds 10,000 per day. Three manned LCs were eliminated, and four road overbridges and nine underbridges were built during this period. The ‘collective’ vigilance and adherence to safety protocols ensured that not a single consequential accident has been recorded so far this year, he pointed out.

About 283 km of track renewal was completed, sectional speeds were raised to 130 kmph across 364 km and 19 permanent speed restrictions were relaxed or removed after addressing critical bottlenecks — the highest progress among all zonal railways.

Around 800 children were rescued by RPF personnel. It has been decided to install CCTV cameras in MMTS coaches to enhance security, especially for women passengers, said Mr. Sirvastava.

A special focus has been laid down for last mile connectivity and it is targeted to complete major ongoing doubling or tripling projects such as Kazipet – Vijayawada, Kazipet – Balharshah and Vijayawada – Gudur tripling projects by the end of this financial year.

New projects such as Errupalem – Namburu line, Nadikudi – Srikalahasthi line, Guntur – Guntakal doubling, Mudkhed – Dhone doubling, and Guntur – Bibinagar doubling, are in different stages of execution, he said.

The GM further informed that the gross originating revenue has been ₹6,960 crore, exceeding the ₹6,894 crore achieved in the same period last year. Freight loading reached 49 million tonnes with revenue at ₹4,601 crore, while the passenger segment generated ₹1,990 crore, with 96 million passengers carried during this period.

About 1,117 special train services were operated and 128 extra coaches attached to the existing train services providing additional travel facility. Solar rooftop plants of 1,158 KWP have been commissioned taking the total solar plants to 14.5 MWP capacity with 16 trains shifted to electric traction resulting in saving of 24.70 crore per annum. Another 65 ‘Green Locomotives’ have been commissioned and with this, the electric loco holding of the zone has reached 1,332.