Railway electrification has proven to be a sustainable and efficient mode of transportation, free from environmental pollution and dependency on fossil fuels. The Indian Railways have made significant progress in this regard, with a record-breaking 37,011 route kilometers (RKMs) of tracks being electrified in the last nine years alone, paving the way for a sustainable future. Between India’s independence and 2014, only 21,413 RKMs of railway tracks were electrified. However, the pace of electrification in India has accelerated significantly since then.
The Indian Railways have already achieved full 100% railway electrification in 14 states/UTs, making significant strides towards becoming the world’s largest green railway with zero carbon emissions by 2030. Out of the total route kilometers electrified, nearly 50% was completed in the last five years alone. This is a remarkable feat for a country that heavily relies on railways as a mode of transportation.
With 58,424 RKMs now electrified, the Indian Railways account for 90% of the total railway tracks electrified in India. The electrification drive has also boosted local industries, as the government has incentivized the production of electric locomotives, wagons, and coaches, thus promoting local manufacturing and reducing import dependence.
The success of the electrification drive has not gone unnoticed, with the Indian Railways achieving several milestones in electrification. As a result, they have set themselves an ambitious target of becoming the world’s largest green railway by 2030, with zero carbon emissions.
In conclusion, the Indian Railways’ electrification drive has paved the way for a sustainable future, and they continue to make remarkable progress in achieving their goal of becoming the world’s largest green railway with zero carbon emissions by 2030. The government’s focus on local manufacturing has also given a boost to the domestic industry