Indian Railways electrifies pit lines for diesel savings

16 Aug 2023 CW Team

The Indian Railways is targeting significant diesel savings of approximately 200,000 litres daily by electrifying all pit lines across its network. These lines are crucial inspection points where train coaches undergo assessments for electrical issues in components like lights, fans, and mobile charging outlets before commencing their next journeys.

Aligned with the railways' ambition of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030, this initiative stands as a crucial step in its environmental commitments. To achieve this, the plan is to replace fossil fuels with grid electrification for all 411 maintenance pits by December 2023, with 302 pits already electrified.

An internal review conducted in 2022 spotlighted the substantial diesel consumption of 184,000 litres per day for Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) rake maintenance due to diesel generators needed during electrical fault rectifications. To mitigate this, the setup of a 750V power supply through grids was sanctioned for all LHB maintenance pits across the Indian Railways.

Reiterating the railways' goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized this during March 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reinforced this objective while inaugurating 508 'Amrit Bharat' stations. The electrification of pit lines, which formerly heavily relied on diesel, is an integral part of this overarching effort.

Beyond environmental benefits, the electrification project is anticipated to reduce costs by 70-80% compared to the existing head-on-generation (HOG-compliant) LHB rakes. This strategic move is predicted to yield over Rs 450 crore annually. Previously, diesel-powered rakes incurred annual expenses exceeding Rs 668 crore, projected to increase by 20% due to diesel inflation and the expansion of the LHB fleet.

Infrastructure Urban

02 Apr 2026

Govt Revises PM E-DRIVE Scheme; New Deadlines And Incentives

The government has revised the PM E-DRIVE scheme, setting new deadlines and incentives targeted at accelerating the adoption of electric two and three wheelers across urban and semi urban areas. The changes are intended to encourage purchase and local manufacturing by providing clearer timelines and enhanced benefits for eligible buyers and producers. Officials indicate the revisions seek to align the scheme with wider transport decarbonisation and industrial policy objectives. Key elements of the revision include extended compliance deadlines for manufacturers and dealers and an expanded fram..

Public EV Charging Stations Reach 27,737 Nationwide

The government informed the Rajya Sabha that the number of public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across India has reached 27,737, reflecting steady progress in charging infrastructure deployment. The expansion is intended to support growing adoption of electric mobility among passenger cars, commercial fleets and public transport. Wider availability of chargers is expected to reduce range anxiety and improve convenience for daily commuting and intercity travel. Central programmes and policy incentives have encouraged both public and private investment in charging networks, supporting ..

IHG Marks Pre-Opening Milestone For Powai Project

IHG Hotels and Resorts (IHG) marked a pre-opening milestone for its hospitality development in Powai, Mumbai, with a traditional puja attended by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, and members of the K Raheja Group. The ceremony was held in partnership with the K Raheja Group and was attended by Vijayta Raheja, Nikhil K. Raheja and Sudeep Jain, managing director, South West Asia, IHG. The event signalled progress on a project scheduled to open in 2026. According to developers the project will comprise a dual hotel complex and a large convention centre designed to serve both ..