The Solapur Division of Central Railway has commissioned the Standard KAVACH system on the 149.476-km Solapur–Wadi section, marking the first deployment of the indigenous train collision avoidance system in the division and a significant milestone in railway safety modernisation.

KAVACH, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system under the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, is designed to prevent head-on and rear-end train collisions while enhancing operational safety through continuous communication between locomotives and trackside infrastructure.

According to a press release from the Solapur Division office, the Standard KAVACH system uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-based track identification technology to ensure accurate train positioning. As part of the project, 1,234 RFID tags were installed and programmed across the Solapur–Wadi section in accordance with approved design specifications.

The railway authorities said the system also enables automatic SOS alerts from locomotives in the event of unusual stoppages within block sections, besides allowing loco pilots to manually generate SOS alerts whenever necessary.

Before commissioning, the system underwent comprehensive validation and field trials in accordance with Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) standards. The tests included simulations of head-on collision prevention, rear-end collision prevention and SOS generation under various operating conditions, confirming the system’s reliability and operational readiness.

The commissioning work was carried out by the Signal and Telecommunication Department, Project Unit, Solapur Division.

Central Railway said the commissioning of the Standard KAVACH system on the Solapur–Wadi section represents another major step in strengthening railway safety infrastructure. By leveraging indigenous technology, the system is expected to improve operational reliability, enhance passenger and freight safety, and contribute to more efficient railway operations.