Western Railway has awarded the KERNEX-KEC Consortium a Rs. 182.81 crore contract for implementing Kavach Version 4.0 on the Palanpur–Samakhiyali–Gandhidham section. With a 70% stake held by Kernex, the order includes UHF and OFC-based communication infrastructure and aims to enhance freight traffic efficiency across Gujarat’s key industrial corridors.
More Details:
The KERNEX–KEC joint venture received a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from Western Railway for the provision of Kavach Version 4.0, a cutting-edge Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), along with a robust communication backbone based on UHF and OFC technologies.
The commission will provide safety and security on the Palanpur–Samakhiyali–Gandhidham section under the Ahmedabad Division. Kernex Microsystems holds a 70% share in this joint venture, and the project is valued at Rs. 182.81 crore (inclusive of 18% GST). The work is to be completed within 730 days from the date of the LoA.
Key Role of the Project:
- The Palanpur–Samakhiyali rail section, spanning the Banaskantha and Patan districts of Gujarat, is a vital freight route.
- It links the ports of the Kutch region with the northern and western parts of India, serving as a major logistics artery.
- Enhanced rail safety and communication systems under this Kavach deployment are expected to significantly boost operational efficiency and minimize the risk of accidents.
Background on the Route & Doubling Initiative:
- This section of the route was previously changed from meter gauge to broad gauge and connects to Gandhidham via Samakhiyali.
- While Samakhiyali–Gandhidham has already been doubled, the Palanpur–Samakhiyali section left single-line, creating a bottleneck.
- Taking this, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs sanctioned the doubling of the 247.73 km Palanpur–Samakhiyali section at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,266.89 crore in 2013.
- The doubling section is important to manage increasing freight demands, especially since this line feeds into the Western DFC (Dedicated Freight Corridor) between Mumbai and Delhi.
- The upgraded infrastructure will support Gujarat’s industrial growth while improving the movement of passenger and freight trains.
Conclusion:
The Kavach Version 4.0 implementation on this critical rail corridor shows a major step toward improving safety, security and operational efficiency. With increasing freight demand across Gujarat’s commercial zones, this step reinforces the government’s commitment to modernizing railway infrastructure and supporting regional economic development through safer and smarter mobility solutions.
Source: Kernex – Press Release | Image Credit (representational): Western Railway
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