Bhubaneswar

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday welcomed the Indian Railways' decision to deploy the indigenous 'Kavach' safety system across key railway routes under the East Coast Railway (ECoR), saying the move will significantly improve passenger safety and operational efficiency.

The chief minister's remarks came a day after the Railways approved a Rs 270-crore project for the installation of Kavach across a 631-km railway network in the ECoR zone.

In a social media post, Majhi described the initiative as a major step forward in strengthening Odisha's railway infrastructure.

"This modern, indigenously developed technology will further strengthen connectivity, support economic growth, and contribute to building a safer and more efficient railway system for the people of Odisha," he said.

Majhi noted that the implementation of Kavach would enhance passenger safety, reduce the possibility of railway accidents, improve train operations and ensure greater reliability of rail services across the state.

The chief minister also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for prioritising railway safety and modernisation.

Indigenous Safety Technology

Kavach is India's indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system designed to prevent accidents caused by signal passing at danger (SPAD), overspeeding and train collisions.

The system continuously monitors train movements and can automatically apply brakes whenever necessary, thereby significantly enhancing operational safety.

Railway officials said the technology would also facilitate safer train operations during adverse weather conditions such as dense fog, improving punctuality and service reliability.

Key Railway Sections Covered

The project will cover six important railway sections under the East Coast Railway zone:

• Baghuapal–Budhapank
• Haridaspur–Paradeep
• Khurda Road–Balangir
• Naupada–Gunupur
• Lanjigarh Road–Junagarh
• Bobbili–Salur

Officials said the deployment of Kavach across these routes is expected to strengthen the overall safety framework of the railway network while supporting the growing transportation needs of the region.

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The initiative forms part of Indian Railways' broader strategy to expand the use of indigenous safety technologies and modernise railway operations across the country.