Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing the Rajya Sabha on the Railways (Amendment) Bill debate, reaffirmed that safety is the top priority for Indian Railways. He detailed the progress of the indigenous Kavach safety system, developed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, which achieved Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL-4)—the highest global safety standard—after rigorous certification from 2016 to 2019. Despite challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, extensive trials were conducted across India’s diverse terrains, ensuring Kavach operates effectively under all conditions. Approved as Kavach Version 4.0 by the RDSO in July 2024, the system’s rollout has accelerated with tenders for 10,000 locomotives and active implementation on 15,000 km of railway tracks. Vaishnaw dismissed criticism regarding its 2% deployment, asserting that India will achieve in five years what developed nations took 20 years to complete, demonstrating an unprecedented commitment to modernizing railway safety.