Divya Prata, Pune
Indian Railways is sticking to its end-of-year goal of fully electrifying its broad-gauge network, a feat that will necessitate a concentrated effort to electrify approximately 6,000 route kilometers (RKM) in the next six months.
According to those familiar with the situation, the December timetable for electrification remains unchanged. Progress on the full 6,226 RKM is proceeding, with contractors given precise instructions to complete all tasks by the end of the year.
If this project is successful, it will be a watershed moment for the railways, which have never electrified more than 6,565 RKM in a single fiscal year. To meet this goal, the railroad must now accomplish a comparable amount of work in just six months.
The RKM is a railway industry statistic that represents the distance between two railway sites, regardless of the number of lines that connect them.By the end of June, Indian Railways had electrified more than 90% of its broad-gauge routes. According to the most recent Railway Electrification Directorate data, 59,096 of the total 65,350 RKM of broad-gauge lines were electrified, accounting for 90.43% of the overall network.
This electrification program is expected to result in huge savings on the railroads’ yearly fuel expense, which is currently over 15,000 crore. The initiative also aligns with India’s commitment to attain net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2070. Furthermore, Indian Railways has set a goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, cementing its status as the world’s largest green railway network.
According to Indian Railways, electrification in 14 states and union territories was completed by June 30, 2023. Furthermore, electrification reached more than 90% in six states and 75% in five other regions. The only stumbling block is in the northeastern states, where development has yet to begin in all states save Assam.