Kavach Part-II: Railway Management giving undue favours to the companies

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Editorial Comment: We had covered an important issue regarding approval granted to a company by RDSO for Kavach on 23 November 2025: “KAVACH – Race against time to extend undue favours”. With approval of more firms it is learnt that prices are falling. Now based on source information we publish another aspect, involving another firm which got orders in initial phase. We invite the stakeholders mentioned here to share their perspectives and versions of events—we assure to give them space fairly. These stories have been carefully curated by senior and highly respected retired railway officers who are committed to avoiding sensationalism.

First create a crisis, paint a scenario of urgency, raise the matter of Safety or Passengers’ comfort and then float large tenders, then manipulate supplies and change tender conditions to suit the successful bidder—This is the way companies are given undue favours by Indian Railways management!

A contract for 10,000 units of onboard Kavach Equipment was awarded to M/s #Kernex in December 2024. The order was to be completed by December 2025. Following points need mention:

“Kernex Micro bags Rs. 2041 crore government contract for kavach equipment”

  1. As per above news item M/s Kernex have a production capacity of only 100 units per month. That means they can supply only about 1200 units by the Purchase Order deadline of December 2025.
  2. The above news item also says that the company will scale up their capacity to 250 per month. Even if they did it immediately, which is an impossible task, they can supply only about 3000 units by December 2025.
  3. The question is, why was an order for 10,000 units placed on a company with very limited capacity?
  4. As per the terms of the contract, if the deadline is not met for the supply, the Purchase Order will be cancelled. Will CLW cancel the contract on the 31st of December, 2025?
  5. The condition in the tender of supply of 10,000 units by December 2025 was a very difficult one to meet. It is possible that some other companies may have avoided bidding in this tender due to this tough deadline. Now, if the supply deadline is extended for M/s Kernex on some pretext, will it not be unfair to those companies, who didn’t bid in the tender?
  6. Will M/s Kernex be delisted or blacklisted for delaying the important project of Kavach? The penalty should go beyond mere cancellation of the purchase order to set an example for other safety equipment suppliers.

This is the way companies are given undue favours by Indian Railways management. Create a crisis, paint a scenario of urgency, raise the matter of #Safety or #Passengers’ comfort and then float large tenders. Then manipulate supplies and change tender conditions to suit the successful bidder!

Also Read this article: “KAVACH – Race against time to extend undue favours”