'Kavach 4.0' System Operationalized for the First Time on South Central Railway

On September 23, 2026, Indian Railways operationalized the 'Kavach 4.0' system over 108 route kilometers on the Malkajgiri–Kamareddi section under the Hyderabad Division of South Central Railway. This was confirmed by All India Radio and other sources alongside the Ministry of Railways.

Key Facts

System Upgrade: The existing Kavach 3.2 on the Malkajgiri–Kamareddi section was upgraded to Kavach 4.0. This marks the first operation of Kavach 4.0 on South Central Railway.
Advanced Features: Kavach 4.0 includes enhanced location accuracy, improved signal information in larger yards, station-to-station interfacing via Optical Fiber Cable, and direct integration with the Electronic Interlocking system.
Indigenous Safety System: Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system that assists loco pilots in maintaining designated speeds and automatically applies brakes when required. It carries a Safety Integrity Level-4 (SIL-4) safety certification.
Background: The specifications for Kavach 4.0 were approved by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) on July 16, 2024.