Transmission tower manufacturer KEC International has got two orders for Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), also known as the Kavach System, worth Rs 600 crore, said MD and CEO Vimal Kejriwal in an interview on June 6.
The KEC orders come after the recent tragic three-train collision in Balasore, Odisha, which has brought attention to the implementation of TCAS systems. The accident claimed 288 lives and injured around 1,000. It was reported that the route did not have Kavach.
Kavach is currently installed on a limited percentage of trains, estimated to be around 5-7 percent of the entire fleet. With about 20,000 trains in operation, the potential market size for train collision avoidance systems in India is considerable.
Kavach was developed by Railway Ministry’s Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), in collaboration with Medha Servo Drives, HBL Power Systems, and Kernex Microsystems. It was brought under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in the 2022 Union Budget. KEC International has entered into a strategic partnership with Kernex Microsystems to augment expertise and increase reach. The tie-up aims to use the combined strengths of both the companies to provide cutting-edge Kavach systems.
KAVACH not only aids Loco Pilot to avoid Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD) and over-speeding, but also helps in running trains during inclement weather such as dense fog, enhancing safety and efficiency of train operations.
