Chennai: With a view to avoiding collisions between trains, the Railways propose to install indigenous "anti-collision devices" (ACD's) in all its locomotives using computer and satellite communication technology.

Union Minister of State for Railways Bandaru Dattatraya told reporters in Chennai on January 20 that the device, invented by the Konkan Railway, which triggers-off automatic braking was presently under trial on the Amritsar-Jalandhar section.

General Managers of the various Railways have been told to send their requirement of devices for their respective railways for inclusion in the 2003-04 Railway Budget proposals, he said.

Pointing out that the railways had a total of about 7,000 engines hauling passenger and goods trains, he said the railways would require about Rs 1,400 crore for the devices, which cost about Rs 20 lakh each.

Stating that the Railways had patented the device, he said some developing countries were showing interest in it.

Southern Railways (SRs) General Manager V Anand, who was present, said the device would be tried on the traffic heavy Chennai Central-Shoranur section.

Referring to the SRs, the minister said the Railways proposed to spend Rs 2,474 crore on doubling of tracks, laying of new lines and gauge conversions etc. A sum of Rs 183 crore had been earmarked in the 2002-03 budget for the purpose, he said.

PTI