Mission 100% Electrification: Indian Railways completes electrification of 82 per cent of total broad gauge network

Indian Railways has fulfilled its plan of electrification of its complete Broad-Gauge network with an aim for better fuel energy usage resulting in increased throughput, reduced fuel expenditure but also savings in precious foreign exchange.

During FY 2022-23, till October 2022, Indian Railways has achieved 1223 Route Kilometers (RKMs) of electrification as compared to 895 RKMs during the corresponding period of FY 2021-22. It is 36.64 per cent more than the previous year's figures of the corresponding period.

Railways could complete the electrification of 6,366 RKMs during 2021-22. Earlier, the highest electrification was 6,015 RKM during 2020-21.

As on 31.10.2022, out of 65,141 RKM of the BG network of IR (including KRCL), 53,470 BG RKM have been electrified, which is 82.08 percent of the total BG network.

As of April 1, 2022, Indian Railways has electrified 80 per cent or 52,247 km (32,465 mi) of the total broad-gauge route kilometers. Indian Railways have been using 25 kV 50 Hz AC traction on all its electrified tracks.

Railway electrification in India began at a time when the British laid out the plan for electric railways. The first electric train was introduced between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Kurla on the Harbour Line, on February 3, 1925, on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) at 1500 V DC. According to the data recently released by the Ministry, at present, 40 railway stations have been redeveloped to provide modern amenities. Fourteen railway stations are still under the tendering stage for redevelopment and they are likely to be completed in the next five months.

Railways has proposed plans to electrify all of the broad-gauge routes by December 2023. Head-On-Generation systems, bio-toilets, and LED lights will be implemented in the system while enhancing passenger comfort.

Indian Railways has taken up several ambitious projects: one of them includes extending the railway tracks to the border of the neighboring country China through Arunachal Pradesh.