RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. has secured a Rs. 454.94 crore contract from West Central Railway to deploy the indigenous Kavach safety system across 1,067 RKM in the Jabalpur Division. The project covers several critical high-density corridors, including some of the busiest and most strategically important routes in the division. It strengthens railway safety and modernization efforts while advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision through indigenous technology.

Introduction:

RailTel Corporation of India Ltd., a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Railways, has secured a prestigious Rs. 454.94 crore (including GST) work order from West Central Railway for the implementation of the indigenous Kavach Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.

The contract involves survey, design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of Trackside Kavach Systems across 1,067 route kilometres (RKM) in the Jabalpur Division. The project will be executed under EPC mode and is scheduled for completion by 24 September 2028, within a 960-day timeline.

The Letter of Acceptance (LoA) has been issued by Dy. CSTE/Project/JBP, West Central Railway.

Project Coverage – Key High-Density Corridors:

The Kavach deployment will span several crucial and high-traffic sections of the Jabalpur Division, including:

These routes are considered high-density corridors, making the implementation of an advanced safety system both strategic and essential.

Scope of Work:

The project encompasses comprehensive execution under EPC mode, including:

The estimated order size as per the LoA stands at Rs. 454,94,74,871.

What is Kavach?:

Kavach is Indian Railways’ flagship Indigenous Automatic Train Protection system developed under the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. It is designed to significantly enhance operational safety and reliability.

Key Features of Kavach:

Kavach represents a transformational step in modernising Indian Railways through indigenous technology solutions.

Insight:

Shri Sanjai Kumar, Chairman & Managing Director, RailTel, said: “This prestigious Kavach order from West Central Railway is a proud moment for RailTel and a strong recognition of our capabilities in delivering critical railway safety infrastructure. Kavach is a transformational initiative for Indian Railways, and RailTel remains committed to supporting the national mission of safer, smarter and technology-driven rail operations through indigenous solutions.”

RailTel’s Growing Role in Railway Safety:

This latest order strengthens RailTel’s position as a key player in railway safety infrastructure. The company is already executing two Kavach projects covering 1,109 route kilometres for East Central Railway.

About RailTel:

RailTel Corporation of India Ltd. is one of India’s largest neutral telecom infrastructure providers and a trusted end-to-end IT & ICT service provider.

Infrastructure Strength:

RailTel also holds telecom licenses including IP-1, NLD and ISP, and operates in-house Tier III data centres, a Security Operation Centre, and MeitY-empanelled cloud services.

Service Portfolio Includes:

The company continues to expand its footprint across telecom, digital infrastructure, and railway modernisation initiatives.

Strategic Significance of the Order:

The Kavach project for the Jabalpur Division aligns with Indian Railways’ broader safety roadmap. With increasing train speeds and growing passenger volumes across high-density corridors, the deployment of ATP systems like Kavach is critical.

The project not only enhances passenger safety but also strengthens indigenous technological capability under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. It reinforces the government’s focus on modernising railway infrastructure through domestically developed solutions.

Conclusion:

RailTel’s Rs. 455 crore Kavach contract marks a major leap in strengthening railway safety across high-density corridors of the Jabalpur Division. The project reinforces India’s commitment to indigenous technology under Atmanirbhar Bharat while positioning RailTel as a leading force in modern, secure and technology-driven railway infrastructure development nationwide.

Source: RailTel – Press Release | Image Credit (representational): Southern Railway

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