97% of railway broad gauge network already electrified: Minister Vaishnaw

Electric traction is more environment friendly and also about 70 per cent more economical than diesel traction, the minister said.

New Delhi: Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said the 97 per cent of its broad gauge network already electrified.

The railways has taken up electrification of broad gauge lines in a mission mode. Since 2014-15 it has completed electrification of about 45,200 Route Km on broad gauge (BG) network. There is substantial jump in electrification from about 1.42 Km/day during 2004-14 to about 19.7 Km/day during 2023-24. At present, about 97% of the total BG network of the Indian Railways has been electrified, the Minister said in Lok Sabha in his written reply.

Electric traction is more environment friendly and also about 70 per cent more economical than diesel traction, he said.

Reliable power supply is crucial for electric train operations. The system incorporates multiple safeguards, including connections to the national grid through state and central transmission utilities. Redundant power sources are available at both grid substations and traction substations to ensure uninterrupted services, the Minister said.