Amid the recent surge in deadly train accidents, the Indian government's 2024-25 railway budget has highlighted safety as a priority, allocating Rs 1,112.57 crore to install the Kavach anti-collision system, marking a 50% increase from the interim budget. Despite this, funds allocated for various purposes indicate limited progress. India Today delves into the timeline for deploying Kavach across India's extensive rail network.
Over the past five years, the Railways have averaged 43 consequential accidents annually, resulting in passenger casualties or property damage. From 2015 to 2022, an average of 56 passengers perished in train accidents each year, with fatalities peaking in 2023 when 219 people died in a triple train collision in Balasore, Odisha. Official data reveals that 53% of railway accidents are due to staff errors, while collisions account for 4% of annual mishaps. Other significant factors include track defects and inadequate maintenance.
A notable issue is the 1.5 lakh vacant "safety" positions within the Railways. From 2018 to 2023, 3,02,550 candidates were hired, while 9,97,638 vacancies were released. The current budget allocates Rs 416.83 crore for "training and human resource development," a 58% increase from the previous year.
The Kavach system, which started rolling out in 2020, has only been deployed on just over 2% of India's rail network. Consequently, more than 97% of the railway network lacks this anti-collision system. Calculations suggest that with the current pace and funding, full implementation could take several decades.
To date, Rs 1,216.77 crore has been spent on Kavach, with the system installed on 1,465 km of the South Central Railway and 144 out of 15,200 locomotives. However, questions arise about the slow implementation pace and government funding allocations.
In Parliament, TMC MP Mahua Moitra criticized the government for prioritizing expensive projects over passenger safety, citing media reports that the current funding level could take 50 years for full deployment of Kavach. Approximately Rs 45,000 crore is needed for complete implementation, with costs estimated at Rs 50 lakh per route kilometer and Rs 70 lakh per locomotive. To complete the installation within 10 years, a budget of Rs 4,500 crore annually is required to cover 6,800 route km and 1,500 locomotives per year.
Railway expert Sudhanshu Mani emphasized the need for a faster rollout, estimating the total cost at Rs 50,000 crore. Despite the substantial budgetary support from the government, the Railways' capacity to execute the installation remains a significant issue. Mani highlighted that the allocation of Rs 500-600 crore annually is insufficient.
Railways Minister Ashwini Vashnaw assured that the installation would proceed rapidly, with significant funds earmarked for safety measures, though he did not specify the exact amount for Kavach. He acknowledged the complexity and extensive infrastructure work required for the system, which includes laying optical fiber, installing telecom towers, and fitting RFID devices on tracks and locomotives.
Mani further pointed out the lack of supporting industries and execution systems for a quicker rollout, urging that Kavach should be a top priority to prevent accidents.
The extensive infrastructure work and complex structure of the Kavach system contribute to the slow rollout. Despite efforts to expedite the installation, the timeline for full deployment remains uncertain. The government's focus on model trains and station upgrades should be balanced with prioritizing the Kavach system to enhance safety and prevent future accidents.
