Indian Railways Achieves 97% Electrification Of Its Broad Gauge Network

The Indian Railways has made significant progress in electrifying its Broad Gauge (BG) network, with approximately 97% of the total network now electrified. This information was shared by Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

A Key Initiative Of The Indian Railways

The electrification of the railway network is a key initiative of the Indian Railways, as electric traction is more environmentally friendly and about 70% more economical than diesel traction.

Since 2014-15, the Indian Railways has completed the electrification of around 45,200 Route Km on the Broad Gauge (BG) network. The pace of electrification has also increased significantly, from about 1.42 Km/day during 2004-14 to around 19.7 Km/day during 2023-24.

The Indian Railways has taken up electrification of Broad Gauge (BG) Railway lines in a mission mode, with a focus on ensuring reliable power supply for electric train operations. The system incorporates multiple safeguards, including connections to the national grid through state and central transmission utilities, to ensure uninterrupted services.