India has achieved 99.6% electrification of its broad gauge railway network, making it the largest electrified railway system in the world by route length. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that 48,072 route km were electrified between 2014 and 2026, compared to 21,801 km in the 60 years prior. This rapid buildout has cut diesel consumption for traction from 293 crore litres in 2015-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-25, saving foreign exchange and reducing carbon emissions. Electrified rail is well suited for integrating solar and wind power. Indian Railways has already commissioned over 1,260 MW of solar and wind capacity to support low-carbon operations. Rail transport emits about 89% less CO2 than road transport per unit of freight or passenger movement. The shift to electric traction, combined with renewable energy procurement, is a concrete step toward decarbonizing one of the world's largest transport networks.
