Rail Electrification Now Set for FY26 End
06 May 2025
2 Min Read
CW Team
Indian Railways' ambitious broad-gauge electrification drive has hit delays, pushing the revised completion target to the end of FY26. Initially aimed for September 2024, the project now faces bottlenecks in last-mile connections鈥攅specially in Assam, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and parts of Rajasthan and Goa. As of March 2025, 68,701 km, or 98.83 per cent of the 69,512 km network, has been electrified, according to the Ministry of Railways.
Progress has been hampered by geographic and infrastructure constraints, particularly in the northeast. Although Tripura is fully electrified, 382 km remain unfinished in Assam. Other remaining segments include 93 km in Rajasthan, 151 km in Karnataka, 169 km in Tamil Nadu, and 16 km in Goa.
Electrification progress slowed in FY25, with only 2,701 km completed鈥攚ell below the 6,000 km-plus annual average since FY21. Officials attribute the delay to complexities in the final routes involving tunnels, bridges, and curved tracks that require precision engineering.
Of 30 Indian states and union territories for which data is available, 25 are now fully electrified. Four others are above 90 per cent, and one exceeds 85 per cent completion. The government has allocated Rs 61.59 billion for electrification in FY26, including unspent funds from the previous year.
Electrification is a critical part of Indian Railways' decarbonisation strategy, aiming to cut its Rs 150 billion fuel bill and achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. Since independence, nearly 22,000 km has been electrified, with most of that achieved after FY18. At its peak, Indian Railways was electrifying over 16 km per day鈥攐ne of the fastest rates globally, outpacing the EU (56 per cent), UK (38 per cent), and the US (1 per cent), with only Switzerland ahead at 99 per cent.
Indian Railways' ambitious broad-gauge electrification drive has hit delays, pushing the revised completion target to the end of FY26. Initially aimed for September 2024, the project now faces bottlenecks in last-mile connections鈥攅specially in Assam, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and parts of Rajasthan and Goa. As of March 2025, 68,701 km, or 98.83 per cent of the 69,512 km network, has been electrified, according to the Ministry of Railways.Progress has been hampered by geographic and infrastructure constraints, particularly in the northeast. Although Tripura is fully electrified, 382 km remain unfinished in Assam. Other remaining segments include 93 km in Rajasthan, 151 km in Karnataka, 169 km in Tamil Nadu, and 16 km in Goa.Electrification progress slowed in FY25, with only 2,701 km completed鈥攚ell below the 6,000 km-plus annual average since FY21. Officials attribute the delay to complexities in the final routes involving tunnels, bridges, and curved tracks that require precision engineering.Of 30 Indian states and union territories for which data is available, 25 are now fully electrified. Four others are above 90 per cent, and one exceeds 85 per cent completion. The government has allocated Rs 61.59 billion for electrification in FY26, including unspent funds from the previous year.Electrification is a critical part of Indian Railways' decarbonisation strategy, aiming to cut its Rs 150 billion fuel bill and achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. Since independence, nearly 22,000 km has been electrified, with most of that achieved after FY18. At its peak, Indian Railways was electrifying over 16 km per day鈥攐ne of the fastest rates globally, outpacing the EU (56 per cent), UK (38 per cent), and the US (1 per cent), with only Switzerland ahead at 99 per cent.
Next Story
HCL-Foxconn to invest Rs 37 billion in chip plant near Jewar airport
The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a new semiconductor unit near Jewar airport in Uttar Pradesh under the India Semiconductor Mission. This sixth plant, a joint venture between HCL and Foxconn, marks further progress in India鈥檚 semiconductor journey. The project will see an investment of Rs 37 billion.The facility will produce display driver chips for mobile phones, laptops, automobiles, PCs, and other digital devices. It is designed for a monthly capacity of 20,000 wafers and an output of 36 million units.Five semiconductor units are already in advanced stages of constructi..
Next Story
Brigade acquires Velachery land for Rs 16-billion project
Brigade Enterprises has acquired a 5.41-acre land parcel on Velachery Road, Chennai, through an outright purchase for Rs 4.417 billion. Located next to Phoenix Market City, the site will be developed into a premium residential project with a gross development value of approximately Rs 16 billion and a development potential of 0.8 million square feet.The project offers strategic access to both the OMR IT Corridor and Chennai鈥檚 Central Business District, promising strong connectivity and premium lifestyle offerings. Brigade plans to create signature residences focused on aesthetics, functional..
Next Story
Liebherr marks 10,000th XPower wheel loader milestone
Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen has rolled out its 10,000th XPower wheel loader, marking a major production milestone. The anniversary L 580 XPower model, featuring a power-split travel drive developed with ZF Friedrichshafen AG, was handed over to the BERGER Group in Passau.鈥淭he transmission from our partner ZF is a key component of the drivetrain in our XPower wheel loaders,鈥� said Gerhard Pirnbacher, Head of Quality Management at Liebherr. 鈥淲ith an impressive total of around 64 million operating hours already clocked up by XPower models, this transmission has proven its exceptional robustn..
