Indian Railways has reached a major milestone by electrifying 99.2% of its broad gauge network, putting India ahead of countries like Japan (39%), Russia (52%) and China (82%), according to the Ministry of Railways. This brings the country closer than ever to having a fully electrified railway system.
Fourteen railway zones, including Central, Eastern and Northern Railways, are now 100% electrified. Across India, 25 states and union territories have also completed electrification.
Rapid progress in recent years
Data shared in the Lok Sabha shows that the electrification drive has been rapid. Between 2014 and 2025, 46,900 route kilometres were electrified – more than double the 21,801 km achieved in the previous 60 years. In recent years, the pace has been impressive, with 7,188 km electrified in 2023-24 and 2,701 km in 2024-25, according to a report by news agency ANI.
This move is expected to cut India’s carbon footprint significantly, as trains emit 89% less CO2 than road transport. Indian Railways is also investing in renewable energy, commissioning 898 MW of solar power across 2,626 stations.
Zones nearing full electrification
Electrification continues to expand across all zones. Zones like North Western, Southern, Northeast Frontier, and South Western Railways have crossed 95% electrification.
The Central, East Coast, East Central, Eastern, Konkan Railway, Kolkata Metro, North Central, North Eastern, Northern, South Central, South East Central, South Eastern, West Central, and Western Railways are fully electrified.
State-wise progress
State-wise, most regions are fully electrified, with Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka nearing completion. In the North Eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram, 100% of the existing broad gauge network has been electrified.
Assam has electrified 9,296 km, with work underway on the remaining sections. All new lines and multi-tracking projects are now being planned and constructed with electrification included from the start.
Challenges in project completion
The Ministry notes that project completion depends on factors like forest clearances, shifting utilities, statutory approvals, terrain, security, and seasonal work conditions. These can affect timelines.
Electrification not only improves rail connectivity but also supports India’s sustainability goals. Rail transport produces far fewer carbon emissions than road transport – just 11.5 g CO2 per tonne-km compared to 101 g for road. The government is focused on achieving 100% electrification and becoming a net-zero carbon emitter by 2030.
Indian Railways’ commitment to a greener, more efficient network is clear, with all new projects now designed with electrification as a priority.