RT team
Indian Railways is on the brink of achieving full electrification of its broad gauge lines within the next few months, well ahead of this financial year’s conclusion, announced a senior official from the Railway Ministry.
This year’s interim budget has earmarked Rs 6,500 crore for ongoing electrification efforts. Achieving 100% electrification will position Indian Railways as the world’s premier eco-friendly rail network, a status already attained by several Indian regions.
“A sum of Rs 6,500 crore has been allocated in FY25 for continuing electrification efforts, underscoring India’s commitment to this goal,” stated a high-ranking railway official to ANI.
Since 2014, the Railways have invested over Rs 46,425 crore in electrification, signaling a definitive shift towards electric locomotives, outnumbering diesel ones. As of December 2023, the tally stands at 10,238 electric versus 4,543 diesel locomotives.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the Railways electrified 7,188 kilometers, including key routes such as Ahmedabad-Rajkot-Okha (499 km) and Bengaluru-Talguppa (371 km). This transition is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 24% by the fiscal year 2027-28.
Since 2014, over 40,000 route km have been electrified, marking a significant increase from the 2,180 km electrified prior to 2014. The pace of electrification has surged from 1.42 km per day in 2014-15 to approximately 19.6 km per day in 2023-24, significantly outpacing electrification efforts in the EU, UK, and the US.
Officials highlight the environmental and economic benefits of rail electrification, including reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels and the creation of construction-related jobs, thereby positioning the railways as a key driver of India’s economic growth.
Despite these advancements, some experts caution that the majority of electricity used by the railways comes from thermal coal plants. Thus, until power generation shifts towards renewable sources, the true environmental impact of electrification remains a concern.
Indian Railways aims to achieve the distinction of being the world’s greenest railway network with zero carbon emissions by 2030.
