New Delhi, Aug 15 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted the pace of railway electrification under his government, saying that 70 per cent of the network was electrified in 10 years, compared with 30 per cent in the previous 90 years.
Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Modi said railway electrification began in 1925, but only 30 per cent of the network was electrified over the next 90 years.
“We completed 100 per cent electrification in just one decade. Thirty per cent in 90 years and 70 per cent in 10 years — this is the pace of work,” he said.
He said electrification had helped reduce the consumption of imported diesel and benefited the environment as trains are increasingly powered by electricity.
Railways’ unprecedented electrification drive has earned praise from various quarters. According to the latest Railway Board data, 99.6 per cent of the 70,142 broad-gauge route kilometres have been electrified.
The Railway Ministry, in a recent written response to Parliament, said that 21,801 route kilometres were electrified before 2014, while 48,072 route kilometres were electrified between 2014 and 2026.
The ministry said that Indian Railways’ diesel consumption for traction purposes had declined by 185 crore litres, from about 293 crore litres in 2015-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-25.
“This has resulted in savings in precious foreign exchange for the Government of India exchequer, which would otherwise have been required for the import of fuel,” it said.
PM Modi also highlighted India’s entry into the green hydrogen train sector, saying the country rolled out a train powered by green hydrogen.
“What is special is that it is the longest and most powerful train, and India has also made its mark in the field of hydrogen trains in the world,” he said.
India’s first indigenous hydrogen-powered train was flagged off by Modi on July 17, marking a step towards adopting hydrogen-based technology in the railways. The service runs on the 89-km Jind-Sonipat section of Northern Railway in Haryana.
The train, developed at a total cost of Rs. 141 crore, has been launched by the Railways on a pilot basis to demonstrate the use of hydrogen-powered train technology in the railway system.
The Hydrogen Trainset operation ensures zero CO2 emissions, emitting only water vapour. It runs on electricity generated using hydrogen, the cleanest fuel known.
Highlighting the achievements of his government over the past 12 years, Modi also said that modern railway coach production had increased 21 times.
The Railway Ministry data shows that while only 2,337 LHB coaches were manufactured from 2004-05 to 2013-14, production increased to 49,366 coaches from 2014-15 to 2025-26, representing more than a 21-fold increase. PTI ADI JP KSI KSI
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