Indian Railways record 371% increase in electrification during 2014-2020, Piyush Goyal shares future plan

The Indian Railways has done some exceptional work when it comes to electrification of tracks in the last few years. Speaking about the same, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Railways, Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, said Indian Railways is moving forward in a phased manner with fast pace and quality and is making great achievements with everyone's cooperation, teamwork and motivation. 

The statement came as Goyal inaugurated newly electrified Dhigawara-Bandikui section of North Western Railway and flagged off the first train on this newly electrified route at the function organized at Dhigawara station. Public representatives and senior railway officials were present on this occasion. 

He added that the electrification work was done on the Kota-Mumbai line in Rajasthan 35 years ago, after that no one paid attention to this area. While working on this in the railways, a target has been set to electrify the entire percentage of railway lines across India. 

He said that between 2009 and 2014, Rajasthan had 0 km of electrification work which was increased to 1433 km in the last five and a half years (till September 2020) i.e. 240 km route was electrified every year. He said that there has been a change in thinking over the years and there has been a change in the way we work.  

Goyal said 65 underpasses were constructed from 2009-14 while 378 underpasses have been constructed from 2014- September 2020. He said only four overbridges were constructed in five years till 2014 whereas 30 such bridges have been constructed from 2014 to September 2020. 

The minister said electrification of railway lines across the country will save the environment as engines will run on electricity produced in the country, saving fuel, money and time.  

Also, the speed of trains will also be increased, he said.  

"This will also help farmers who will be able to take their crops to any part of the country (through rail freight transport) in less time," he added.