Indian Railways electrifies 6,577 route kilometres in 2023

The government announced that the Indian Railways had accomplished electrification of 6,577 route kilometres (RKMs) in the calendar year 2023. According to a press release from the Ministry of Railways, Indian Railways is moving forward with the goal of achieving 100 percent electrification of Broad Gauge tracks, envisioning an eco-friendly, faster, and energy-efficient mode of transportation. The electrification now accounts for 93.83 percent of the total Broad Gauge route of the Indian Railways, as per the latest figures. The Indian Railways has set a target to become the world's largest green railway by 2030. The press release stated, Up to December 2023, a total of 61,508 Route Kms of the Broad Gauge (BG) network have been electrified, constituting 93.83 percent of the total Broad Gauge route (65,556 RKMs) of Indian Railways. Highlighting the pace of the electrification drive under the Narendra Modi government, the statement noted that 21,801 KM of the broad gauge network had been electrified until the year 2014. It was also mentioned that after achieving 100 percent electrification, the railways would require approximately 30.13 billion units of electricity. Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in the December 2023 winter session of the Parliament, informed the Lok Sabha about this estimated requirement. He added, The actual demand will depend on the future passenger and goods traffic over Indian Railways. It's worth noting that the Indian Railways has accomplished 100 percent railway electrification in at least 14 states/UTs. This push towards electrification aligns with the government's efforts towards the Sustainable Development Goals endorsed by the United Nations.