Wed Dec 17 16:22:20 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten news article:

Summary:

The article reports on Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s update to the Lok Sabha regarding the implementation of the indigenous anti-collision system, Kavach. He stated that Kavach is fully operational on over 2,000 km of the Indian rail network. He highlighted the complexity of the system, involving extensive infrastructure upgrades. He also noted a significant decrease in rail accidents. Furthermore, he discussed the challenges of redeveloping railway stations without disrupting train services, explaining why complete shutdowns, common in other countries, are not feasible in India. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, involving phased upgrades, is underway, with 155 of 1,337 identified stations already completed.

News Article:

Kavach Safety System Fully Operational on Over 2,000 km of Indian Railways

New Delhi, December 17, 2025 – Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced today that the indigenously developed anti-collision system, Kavach, has been fully commissioned on over 2,000 kilometers of the Indian rail network. Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session of Parliament, Minister Vaishnaw highlighted the significant progress made in enhancing rail safety.

Kavach, a complex Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, comprises five major components, including continuous laying of optical fiber cable (OFC) along tracks and the installation of telecom towers. To date, Indian Railways has laid 7,129 km of OFC, installed 860 telecom towers, connected 767 stations to data centers, deployed trackside equipment along 3,413 km, and equipped 4,154 locomotives with the system. Approximately 40,000 technicians and operators have been trained to manage the new system.

Minister Vaishnaw also addressed concerns about rail accidents, stating that consequential accidents have decreased by nearly 90% since 2014.

Responding to questions about railway station redevelopment, the Minister explained that completely halting rail traffic for upgrades, as practiced in other countries, is not a viable option in India due to the sheer volume of passengers. Instead, stations are being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, a long-term, phased approach based on master plans. Currently, 1,337 stations have been identified under the scheme, and redevelopment work at 155 stations has already been completed.

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