Indian Railways has achieved a significant milestone by completing the electrification of approximately 40,000 Route Km on the Broad Gauge (BG) network since the fiscal year 2014-15. This remarkable accomplishment represents a substantial increase from around 1.42 Km/day between 2004-14 to an impressive 18 Km/day in 2022-23.
Current Landscape: Electrification Covering 94% of BG Network
Presently, the electrification effort encompasses 61,813 Route km on the BG network, covering approximately 94% of the total Broad Gauge network of Indian Railways. The remaining electrification of the BG network is actively underway.
Investments and Allocations: Fueling Electrification Initiatives
A substantial financial commitment has fueled the electrification drive, with Rs 43,346 crore invested in electrification projects between 2014-23. Additionally, a forward-looking approach includes an allocation of Rs. 8,070 crore for electrification during the fiscal year 2023-24.
Railway Landscape: Scope and Scale of Infrastructure Projects
As of April 1, 2023, Indian Railways is actively managing 459 Railway Infrastructure projects, including 189 New Line projects, 39 Gauge Conversion projects, and 231 Doubling projects. These initiatives collectively span a total length of 46,360 km and entail an estimated cost of approximately Rs. 7.18 lakh crore.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Minister of Railways, Communications, and Electronic & Information Technology, shared these updates in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, highlighting the ongoing efforts and achievements in the realm of railway electrification and infrastructure development.