Hyderabad: Highlighting how most trains in the South Central Railway (SCR) zone lack the latest version of Kavach, an indigenously developed automatic train protection system to prevent train accidents, an RTI activist has asked Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw why one should even board such trains.
Addressing his X post to Vaishnaw, Robin Zaccheus posted on Tuesday, September 1, “21 consequential train accidents on SCR sections without Kavach.” This was mentioned in the SCR’s response on September 1 to his RTI query dated August 24.
Siasat.com has a copy of the SCR’s response. According to Indian Railways, “Consequential train accidents include mishaps with serious repercussions in terms of loss of human life or injury, damage to railway property, or interruption to rail traffic.”
Interestingly, the first field trial runs of Kavach were done on passenger trains in the SCR, which covers Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Zaccheus has also asked Vaishnaw, “Why is Kavach still a ‘phase’ after 21 losses on the uncovered map? Why is sanctioned being sold as safe? Why is Ver 4.0 on a sliver treated as if the rest of SCR is covered?”
According to the SCR data shared with Zaccheus, all 21 accidents have occurred since 2016 on sections where Kavach was not installed. Hence, he asks, “Why should a passenger in Secunderabad ride a section your own table admits has no Kavach?”
Pointing out that Vaishnaw also holds the technology portfolio, he says, “You cannot say the system is indigenous and then leave the indigenous system off the track. Telangana demands 100% Kavach 4.0 on every running line under SCR.”
