All railway tracks to be electrified

Over 13,600 route km to benefit

DINDIGUL: 13/11/2015: Workers engaged in final starge of electrification work of tracks on newly laid second track between Dindigul and Trichy section at Balakrishnapuram in Dindigul, Tamilnadu, on Friday. After laying of these tracks complete between Dindigul and Chennai, running times of trains sharply reduce around 30 minutes. PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN. DINDIGUL: 13/11/2015: Workers engaged in final starge of electrification work of tracks on newly laid second track between Dindigul and Trichy section at Balakrishnapuram in Dindigul, Tamilnadu, on Friday. After laying of these tracks complete between Dindigul and Chennai, running times of trains sharply reduce around 30 minutes. PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN. - DINDIGUL: 13/11/2015: Workers engaged in final starge of electrification work of tracks on newly laid second track between Dindigul and Trichy section at Balakrishnapuram in Dindigul, Tamilnadu, on Friday. After laying of these tracks complete between Dindigul and Chennai, running times of trains sharply reduce around 30 minutes. PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved the proposal for electrification of the remaining 13,675 route km of railway tracks at an estimated cost of over ₹12,134 crore, converting the entire railway network into electric.

The last leg of unelectrified broad-gauge routes comprises 108 sections covering 13,675 route km, or 16,540 track km, an official statement said, adding that the electrification is likely to be completed by 2021-22.

“We have electrified about 46% of routes. The work is on for electrification of about 20,000 km of routes, after which about 78% of Indian Railways will be electrified. Today [Wednesday], the Cabinet has approved 13,675 km of remaining routes at the cost of ₹12,134 crore,” Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said after the meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The government expects the approved electrification to generate direct employment of about 20.4 crore man-days during the period of construction.

The major trunk routes on the Indian Railways network have already been electrified and are operational, the government said, adding that the proposed electrification — mainly for missing links and last mile connectivity, will increase the operational efficiency, enhance the line capacity and improve the average speed of trains.

“The approved electrification will reduce the use of imported fossil fuels, thereby improving energy security to the nation. After the planned electrification, there would be reduction in the consumption of high speed diesel oil by about 2.83 billion litres per annum and a reduction in GHG emissions,” it added.

Currently, two-thirds of freight and more than half of passenger traffic move on electric traction.