The Indian Railways is shuffling closer to its mission of 100% electrification. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Railways mentioned that 3,375 Route Kilometers (RKM) had been electrified from 2022-23 till January 31 against 2,452 Route Kilometers in 2021-22, registering a 38% growth.

The feat is outstanding as before the year 2014, the electrification of the railway linkage had been touching at an average speed. However, now the project has sped up. Once 100% electrification is attained, the Indian Railways is working to be a game changer in the Indian energy sector. There is an excellent opening for the country to progress its freight and passenger section without following the high-carbon trail other countries have followed. To curtail India’s dependency on fossil fuels and convert to the largest ‘Green Railways’ in the world, the Indian Railways has accomplished electrification work in 85% RKMs.

Thus, when the railway network is 100% electrified, the diesel locomotive-hauled trains will conclude to work, reducing pollution and reducing India’s dependency on imported energy. The project will enhance the country’s energy security by providing energy-efficient eco-friendly transportation.

The electrification is done in two ways: electrifying India’s entire Broad Gauge network or unleashing the railways’ potential to custom renewable energy, particularly solar, by using substantial land parcels along the railway track.