“The time and the leadership could not have been better, and we are in the golden era of improving safety across the network of Indian Railways. Indian Railways is also focused on improving the speed of its train at all levels. In that context, safety will be of paramount importance. And the nation’s leadership – whether it is the Honourable PM or the honourable Railways Minister – understand this and is prioritizing safety like never before. Same is the case with the Railway Board as well.” Gaurav Lath, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Systems Limited
“At the highest level in railway ministry and railway board, everybody is working towards positive impact of safety in the entire network. In this context, Kavach 4.0 is one of the largest capital deployments on which the Indian Railways is very focused. This top-down mandate will ensure the rapid and large-scale deployment of Kavach 4.0 is executed efficiently.” Nitin Jain, Joint Managing Director, Concord Control Systems Limited
The Indian Railways is embarking on a major safety transformation, placing passenger security at the absolute forefront of its agenda. This renewed focus, backed by the highest levels of government leadership, is not just a policy shift but a massive strategic investment, opening significant market opportunities for advanced safety solutions.
At the heart of this revolution is Kavach 4.0, the indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system. Niranjan Mudholkar, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of The Manufacturing Frontier, explores this crucial theme in an exclusive interview with Gaurav Lath and Nitin Jain, Joint Managing Directors of Concord Control Systems Limited, a key partner in this national drive.
Vision from the Top: A Golden Era for Safety
The commitment to safety, driven by top leadership, is unparalleled. Gaurav Lath highlights the systemic prioritization, noting, “I think the time and the leadership could not have been better and we are in the golden era of improving safety across the network of Indian Railways.”
He further emphasizes the dual focus on speed and safety, “Indian Railways is also focused on improving the speed of its train at all levels. In that context, safety will be of paramount importance. And the nation’s leadership – whether it is the Honourable PM or the honourable Railways Minister – understand this and is prioritizing safety like never before. Same is the case with the Railway Board as well.”
Echoing this, Nitin Jain adds, “At the highest level in railway ministry and railway board, everybody is working towards positive impact of safety in the entire network. In this context, Kavach 4.0 is one of the largest capital deployments on which the Indian Railways is very focused.” This top-down mandate will ensure the rapid and large-scale deployment of Kavach 4.0 is executed efficiently.
In-House Technology and Expertise
Concord Control Systems Limited is positioned as a reliable, fast-track partner to meet the ambitious nationwide safety coverage timelines. Its approach is built on a unique combination of native technological development and deep domain knowledge.
Nitin Jain elaborates on the company’s crucial advantages for navigating India’s complex rail network: “The Indian Railways has created its own strict compliances through RDSO specification. At Concord, we feel that we are very aptly positioned for this because of two reasons. One, the entire technology of Kavach is designed in-house; we don’t have any dependence on any third party. Secondly, because of our advanced rail portfolio of locomotives, we understand the locomotive side of the business along with the braking and the electronics which goes into a locomotive. This gives us an edge in the implementation of Kavach 4.0 across the country.”
This in-house technology has reduced reliance on foreign technologies, ensuring the solution is perfectly tailored to India’s specific operational needs and regulatory standards, a cornerstone of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Furthermore, Concord’s enhanced stake in its associate company, Progota, underscores its commitment to accelerating indigenous development and deployment.
Testing and Eligibility
Concord secured its first major Kavach 4.0 order, worth ₹19.45 crore, in September 2025, enabling the start of large-scale implementation. This initial order and the ongoing processes are bolstering its credibility for future nationwide tenders.
Initial Trials: Field trials for Kavach are currently covering 53 km on South Central Railway.
Compliance and Eligibility: The company, via Progota, has achieved Technical Prototype Clearance from RDSO, a non-negotiable step in the multi-layered approval process.
Gaurav Lath affirms the strategic significance of this clearance: “When it comes to safety, the Railway Board has strict and multiple layers of approvals in place, and these are non-negotiable. With the Technical Prototype Clearance from RDSO for Progota, we are completely eligible to participate in all upcoming tenders of Kavach4.0 for larger quantities as well.”
With the demanding Safety Integrity Level 4 (SiL4) certification on its way to completion, Concord is further cementing its position among the few capable suppliers in India’s safety electronics sector.
Streamlined Deployment and Interoperability
The challenge now is the rapid and smooth scaling up of the system across the vast Indian railway network. Concord’s established field presence ensures a streamlined implementation process.
Nitin Jain highlights the advantage of their existing operational infrastructure: “Since Concord is already deploying other solutions through a well-established network of installation teams, we are better positioned to install and work around the coverage deployment. Because of our capabilities, track record and local domain expertise, we will be able to scaleup as well as fast track the implementation in a smooth manner.”
It is equally important to note that the Kavach 4.0 system is designed for interoperability. This means that it is fully compatible across various manufacturers’ equipment, ensuring effective and seamless integration across India’s diverse railway systems.
Global Aspirations
Looking beyond domestic deployment, Concord is already setting its sights on the international stage. The successful, large-scale deployment of Kavach 4.0 within the Indian Railways will serve as a powerful testament to its technological prowess and execution capability.
Gaurav Lath concludes with a bold vision for the future: “Concord today is well positioned to emerge as a railway technology player, which will have technology as a backbone for all railway related innovation. We also foresee that tomorrow we will become a global supplier to a lot of railway giants across the globe for the technologies which we are developing in house. This way, we want to build on the honourable Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World’.
The collaboration between the focused leadership of Indian Railways and technologically astute partners like Concord Control Systems Limited signals a big leap forward, not just in securing the network, but in establishing India as a leader in cutting-edge railway safety technology.
Green Signals
The swift and strategic deployment of Kavach 4.0 will mark a major turning point for the Indian Railways. The leadership’s strong focus, coupled with the proven in-house capabilities and RDSO-approved technology of an organization like Concord, ensures that train safety is secured nationwide. By meeting ambitious timelines and demonstrating full interoperability, Concord’s partnership with the Indian Railways is not only securing India’s tracks but is realizing the ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision for railway innovation.
