The West Central Railway, Bhopal Division, has awarded a contract worth ₹151.41 crore (including GST) to the KERNEX–KEC Consortium for the implementation of Kavach, India’s indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system.
The scope of work covers the provision of Kavach on a UHF backbone along with Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) with route diversity in the sections of Itarsi (excluding)–Khandwa (excluding) and Bina (excluding)–Ruthiyai, as well as other associated routes in the Bhopal Division. According to the Letter of Acceptance (LoA), the project is to be executed within 600 days from the date of award.
Key Details of the Contract
- Awarding Authority: West Central Railway, Bhopal Division
- Awardee: KERNEX–KEC Consortium
- Project Value: ₹151.41 crore (incl. GST @18%)
- Nature of Work: Provision of Kavach (indigenous ATP system) on UHF backbone with OFC and route diversity
- Completion Timeline: 600 days
- Domestic/International: Domestic
- Promoter/Related Party Involvement: None
This latest contract adds to the growing adoption of Kavach across Indian Railways. The cumulative orders received by the consortium and its partners from April 1, 2024, to date now stand at ₹3,136.53 crore (including GST). Kavach is a flagship technology initiative of Indian Railways aimed at improving safety, preventing collisions, and enhancing operational efficiency.