The Ministry of Railways has approved three major projects worth a combined ₹675 crore across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, focusing on railway safety, modern signalling infrastructure and improved freight movement.
The package includes ₹170 crore for Kavach Version 4.0, ₹233 crore for Electronic Interlocking at 21 stations, and ₹272 crore for an 11-km freight bypass line.
What Is Kavach?
Kavach is India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, developed to improve train safety. It is designed to assist locomotive pilots by automatically applying brakes when required if the prescribed speed limit or signal restrictions are not followed.
The system can help prevent Signal Passing at Danger (SPAD), control train speeds in critical situations and reduce the risk of train collisions. Kavach also supports safer train operations during difficult weather conditions.
Kavach Version 4.0 includes improvements such as better location accuracy, enhanced handling of signal information in larger yards, station-to-station communication through optical fibre and direct integration with existing Electronic Interlocking systems.
₹170 Crore For Kavach 4.0 In Moradabad
The Railways has sanctioned ₹170 crore to deploy Kavach Version 4.0 across the remaining 712 route kilometres of the Moradabad Division of Northern Railway in Uttar Pradesh.
The expansion will add another layer of automatic protection to train operations and is aimed at strengthening safety across the division.
The latest approval comes as Indian Railways continues its wider Kavach rollout. As of July 2026, Kavach 4.0 had been commissioned over 2,633 route kilometres, while implementation was being taken up across a much larger network.
₹233 Crore Electronic Interlocking Project In Bihar
A second project worth ₹233 crore has been approved for installing Electronic Interlocking (EI) at 21 stations in the Samastipur Division of East Central Railway.
The project will replace older Panel Interlocking systems with computer-based technology. Electronic Interlocking can improve signalling reliability, speed up fault detection, simplify maintenance and provide greater flexibility in train operations.
The upgraded signalling infrastructure will also provide the necessary support for the implementation of Kavach in the division.
₹272 Crore Freight Bypass In West Bengal
The third project involves an investment of ₹272 crore for constructing an 11-km bypass line between the Adra end and Joychandipahar under South Eastern Railway.
The bypass is designed to provide a dedicated route for freight movement and a bi-directional connection with the upcoming third line. It is expected to help handle around 6.065 freight rakes per day and support increasing industrial traffic.
The project is also expected to reduce operational bottlenecks and delays caused by surface crossings on the existing section.
Why The Freight Bypass Matters
The Adra-Joychandipahar-Sanka bypass is expected to support freight requirements associated with SAIL’s projected iron ore requirement of 23.40 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and BCCL’s projected movement of 45 rakes per day.
Railways estimates that the project could facilitate an additional 8.88 MTPA of traffic after completion. The existing network in the area is operating at around 71% utilisation, making additional capacity important for handling future industrial traffic.
The bypass is also part of the broader Energy, Mineral and Cement Corridor, aimed at strengthening the movement of industrial commodities.
Three Projects, One Major Railway Upgrade
| Project | Location | Investment | Main Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kavach 4.0 | Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh | ₹170 crore | Train safety |
| Electronic Interlocking | Samastipur, Bihar | ₹233 crore | Signalling modernisation |
| Adra-Joychandipahar Bypass | West Bengal | ₹272 crore | Freight movement |
| Total | UP, Bihar & West Bengal | ₹675 crore | Safety & capacity |
India’s Growing Focus On Railway Safety
The ₹675-crore approval is part of a broader push by Indian Railways to modernise safety and signalling infrastructure. The government has significantly increased expenditure on safety-related activities, with the allocation for 2026-27 listed at ₹1,20,389 crore.
The Railways has also been expanding Electronic Interlocking and Kavach across high-density routes to reduce risks associated with human error and improve operational efficiency.
What Kavach Means For Train Passengers
For passengers, the expansion of Kavach means an additional technological safety layer during train operations. If a locomotive pilot fails to respond appropriately to a restrictive signal or speed requirement, the system can intervene by applying the brakes under specified conditions.
However, Kavach is not a replacement for railway signalling, track maintenance or human supervision. It works as part of a broader safety system involving signalling equipment, communication infrastructure, trained railway personnel and operational procedures.
Conclusion
The ₹675-crore railway package represents three different aspects of India’s railway modernisation programme: Kavach for train protection, Electronic Interlocking for safer signalling and a dedicated bypass for faster freight movement.
With ₹170 crore being allocated for Kavach 4.0 on another 712 route kilometres in Moradabad, the latest decision could further expand the reach of India’s indigenous train protection technology while the signalling and bypass projects address capacity and operational challenges in Bihar and West Bengal.
