New Delhi: Indian Railways, known as the nation’s lifeline, has set a record that surpasses even the world’s largest rail powers. Indian Railways has electrified 99.2 percent of its broad gauge network. This means that most trains will now run on electricity instead of diesel.
This is not only a major technological breakthrough, but it will also significantly benefit the environment and save fuel. Most importantly, India has now surpassed major countries like Britain, Russia, and China in this regard. While large portions of these countries’ railway networks are still not fully electric, India is very close to achieving the goal of achieving nearly 100% electric power. This achievement demonstrates that Indian Railways is rapidly becoming modern and environmentally friendly.
According to the Ministry of Railways, while only 39 percent of the railway network is electrified in Britain, 52 percent in Russia, and 82 percent in China, India has almost reached the target of 100 percent. This transformation has occurred at a rapid pace over the past decade. Between 2014 and 2025, 46,900 route kilometers of railway lines were electrified, more than double the total electrification achieved in the previous 60 years.
Today, 14 railway zones in the country are fully electrified, including major zones such as Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western Railways. Additionally, 25 states and union territories have completed 100% electrification of their broad gauge networks. In northeastern India, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, and Mizoram have also fully electrified their networks, while Assam is in the final stages with 92% electrification.
The biggest benefit of this achievement will be to the environment. According to data, rail transport emits approximately 89 percent less carbon dioxide than road transport. While 101 grams of carbon dioxide is released when one ton of goods is transported one kilometer by road, the same emission by rail is only 11.5 grams. This is why Indian Railways is considered the backbone of green transportation. Indian Railways is no longer limited to electrification alone. 898 MW of solar power has also been commissioned at 2,626 railway stations across the country. The government aims to make Indian Railways a net-zero carbon emitter by 2030.
