Railways to cover last mile of electrification after polls
While 95% of the network was electrified by March-end, 3,500 route km is yet to be covered.
The Indian Railways is likely to complete the total electrification project of its broad gauge network only in the second half of the calendar year, according to two persons familiar with the matter.
The new government may include the plan to electrify the remaining 3,500 route km in its agenda, the two people said.
While 95% of the network was electrified by the end of March, an estimated 3,500 route km is yet to be covered.
“With complexities involved in completing the last few stretches, Railways is now hoping to wrap up the work in second half of current calendar year, in time for implementing the 100-day agenda of the new government that will come to power post completion of elections in June,” said one of the two persons quoted above.
Originally slated for full electrification by December 2023, the deadline was extended to the end of fiscal year 2023-24. It has now been pushed further due to ongoing work.
Despite setting a record target of 6,500 route kilometres for FY24, the railway ministry's report indicates only 3,307 route km were electrified by February
2024. The progress till Marchend is estimated at around 3,500 route km leaving roughly a similar route km of work to be completed over the next few months.
THE Railways had set for itself a record target of 6,500 route kilometres for the last fiscal year
HOWEVER, it was able to electrify only 3,307 route km by February as per a ministry report
Electrification varies across states; 14 are fully electrified, nine are above 90%, and two above 80%. In seven states and territories, electrification is minimal or yet to commence. Significant work remains in North Eastern states and others like Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and West Bengal. Small stretches are left in states such as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
The FY24 budget allocated ₹8,070 crore for electrification, with nearly half now expected to be spent in FY25, the person quoted above said.
Query sent to the ministry of rail
THE progress in electrification work till March-end was estimated at around 3,500 route km
Route kilometre is defined as the distance between two points on the railways, regardless of the number of lines connecting them: be it a single line, double line, or any other configuration. ways remained unanswered till press time.
This electrification push is part of Indian Railways' strategy to reduce its annual fuel bill of over ₹15,000 crore. It will also contribute to India’s target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2070.
Indian Railways aims for net zero carbon emissions by 2030, with a plan to become the world's largest green railway network.
Between 1948 and 2014, about 22,000 route km were electrified. The pace accelerated significantly from FY18, marking a notable increase to over 6,000 route km annually until FY22. Railways achieved 6,500 route km in FY23 and set a target of 6,500 km for FY24.
But this target was only half met with just around 3,500 route km achieved in FY24.
At 95% electrification, the Indian Railway is far ahead of its global peers with electrification reaching just about 56% in the European Union, 38% in the United Kingdom and just 1% in the US. Switzerland is one of the countries, however, that has achieved 99% electrification.
With the aim to give the final push to electrification, the budget for 2024-25 has also allocated an amount of ₹6,500 crore for the exercise. Though lower than last year’s allocation of over ₹8,000 crore, the amount is considered adequate to fund electrification in difficult terrain in the North East where the bulk of last leg projects are left.