The Indian Railways’ commitment to delivering a sustainable, swift, and energy-efficient transportation system is actively progressing towards the complete electrification of Broad Gauge tracks.
Where does the electrification of Broad Gauge tracks stand?
In 2023 alone, Indian Railways successfully electrified 6,577 Route Kilometers, a Railway Ministry press release showed. As of December 2023, the electrification effort has covered a total of 61,508 Route Kilometers, representing 93.83% of the total Broad Gauge route (65,556 RKMs) in the Indian Railways network. It’s noteworthy that until the year 2014, only 21,801 KM of the broad gauge network had been electrified.
How does Railway Electrification benefit us?
Emphasising the advantages of track electrification, the Railway Ministry asserted that it leads to a decrease in operational costs and transforms the railway into an eco-friendly mode of transportation. Additionally, electrification enhances the efficiency of moving heavier freight and longer passenger trains, owing to the superior operational capabilities of electric locomotives. The ministry contends that electrification diminishes reliance on imported crude oil, resulting in the conservation of valuable foreign currency, as per a press release.
Indian Railways on green track
The Union Cabinet on Friday announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United States Agency for International Development/India (USAID/India) on June 14. The primary objective of this partnership is to assist Indian Railways in realising its ambitious goal of achieving Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030.