Railways to be zero carbon emitter by 2030

With the railways taking up massive electrification coupled with renewable strategies, the national transporter became a net zero carbon emitter by 2030, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said here on Tuesday.

Addressing the Rail Contact 2018 conference organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), he said the national transporter converting most of its diesel locomotives to electric to reduce the dependence on diesel.

The Minister said that the government able to ramp up track renewal to 476 km every month. Passenger travel in terms of kilometres has increased 1642%. The total investments in 2013-14 in the capital infrastructure of Railways was Rs 46,000 crores, which is now made Rs 1,41,000 crores for this year, he added.

Claiming that the railways need more engagement and investments in areas such as technological upgradation and modernization, the Minister invited the industry to invest in stations development project.

Ghanshyam Singh, Member Traction of the Railway Board, said the government is working in a transparent manner on the policy frameworks for a faster and better execution of electrification project.