Indian Railways Achieves More Than 99% Electrification, Becomes World’s Second Most Electrified Network

India has achieved a major milestone in railway infrastructure, with 99.6% of its broad gauge network now electrified. The development places Indian Railways among the world's most electrified rail systems and reflects one of the fastest electrification drives undertaken globally.

According to information shared by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha, work on the remaining routes is progressing. The expansion is aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions and lowering dependence on fossil fuels.

India Railway Electrification Percentage Reaches 99.6%

Indian Railways has electrified nearly its entire broad gauge network, achieving 99.6% coverage. The pace of implementation has accelerated significantly in recent years, with 48,072 route kilometres electrified between 2014 and 2026.

In comparison, 21,801 route kilometres were electrified during the nearly 6 decades before 2014. The government has also incorporated electrification into all new railway line and multi-tracking projects to expand coverage further.

India Becomes Second Most Electrified Railway Network

With 99.6% electrification, India ranks second among major railway systems globally, behind Switzerland, which has achieved 100% electrification. India's network has surpassed several large railway systems, including China at 82%, Spain at 67%, Japan at 64%, France at 60% and the United Kingdom at 39%.

The achievement highlights the scale and speed of the country's railway modernisation programme. It also underlines the growing shift towards electric rail transport across the Indian network.

Railway Electrification Benefits for Environment and Fuel Savings

The government stated that railway electrification has supported India's transition towards sustainable transportation. According to a NITI Aayog report, rail transport emits around 11.5 grams of carbon dioxide per tonne-kilometre, compared with approximately 101 grams for road transport.

Diesel consumption for train operations declined from 293 crore litres in 2015-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-25, resulting in savings of nearly 185 crore litres. The reduction has helped lower carbon emissions and reduce expenditure on imported fuel.

Indian Railways Renewable Energy Capacity and Zone-Wise Progress

Indian Railways is increasingly meeting traction power requirements through renewable energy sources. As of June 2026, it had commissioned around 1,161 MW of solar power capacity and approximately 103 MW of wind power capacity, taking total renewable energy capacity to more than 1,260 MW.

Across the railway network, 15 zones, including Central Railway, Northern Railway, Eastern Railway, Western Railway, South Central Railway and East Coast Railway, along with Konkan Railway and Kolkata Metro, have achieved 100% electrification. Several states and Union Territories, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Delhi, have also reached complete railway electrification.

Read More: Indian Railways Hikes Penalties for Ticketless Travel and Other Passenger Violations from July 1, 2026.

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Conclusion

India's progress in railway electrification has transformed one of the world's largest rail networks, taking broad gauge electrification to 99.6%. The initiative has reduced diesel consumption, improved operational efficiency and increased the use of renewable energy in railway operations.

Indian Railways continues to advance Mission 100% Electrification despite the technical challenges of carrying out work on operational routes. With only a small portion of the network remaining, the country is close to achieving complete electrification of its broad gauge railway system.

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