As per the rules, a single line section cannot be taken for electrification. It should be preceded by improvement of signalling and doubling.

With all his talk of cross-subsidisation and revitalising the railways, Kumar acted in line with his predecessors by announcing massive electrification works.

Four new electrification projects namely Ernakulam-Trivandum, Tambaram-Chengalpattu, Patna-Gaya and Mughalsarai-Zafrabad were sanctioned this year. This would cost the railways an estimated Rs 270.34 crore.

According to sources, Kumar also announced electrification of Nilgiri Mountain Railway, survey for which is under progress. A survey alone leaves the railways poorer by some lakhs and in some cases even a crore.

Incidentally, in Bihar, which has given the maximum number of railway ministers, Patna-Gaya was the only section left for electrification. The Mughalsarai-Dhanbad-Asansol section was electrified in the eighties, while the electrified Mughalsarai-Patna-Howrah section is due to be commissioned shortly.

Electrification of two other sections--Ambala-Moradabad and Renigunta-Hospet--was restarted during Kumar's tenure. This would cost the Railways Rs 329.21 crore. Work on the sections were frozen few years back as it was considered unviable.

With a view to appease public, ministers have been ordering electrification of railway sections as it is considered an indicator of development though the fact is that diesel locomotives are an advancement over electric engines.

Digvijay Singh, newly-appointed minister of state for railways, did not waste time in announcing that work on pending projects, especially those relating to new lines and electrification, in his home state Bihar would be speeded up.

The statement might have come with an eye on Bihar assembly elections, but it is no good news for the Railways which is all set to make a record deficit of Rs 8,000 crore this year. Electrification costs railways approximately Rs 64 lakh per kilometre.

Countries like the United States, Canada and Australia have not opted for electric traction. Even in European countries, where cheap surplus electricity is available, electrification has been restricted to around 30 per cent.