Indian Railways has achieved an important milestone by electrifying all routes in Uttar Pradesh, moving towards its goal of a ‘Net Zero Carbon Emission’ railway system in seven years. The 85-km Shubhagpur-Pachperwa section in Gorakhpur-based North Eastern Railway has been electrified, completing the electrification of all railway lines in the state. This achievement puts the zone in the company of other completely electrified zones such as the East Coast Railway, North Central Railway, West Central Railway, Eastern Railway, and South Eastern Railway. The railways has made significant progress towards its target of 100% electrification of all broad gauge routes, currently standing at around 85%. It also aims to transition to renewables in line with India’s global commitment to renewable energy. The projected energy demand of the Indian Railways in 2029-30 is expected to be about 8,200 MW, with a requirement of about 30,000 MW of renewable capacity to achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission. Currently, about 143 MW of solar plants and 103 MW of wind power plants have been commissioned, with an additional 2,150 MW of renewable energy capacity tied up. The idea of solar-powered trains was explored in the past, but it was found that solar power only works during the day and has limited battery backup. As a result, the project was not pursued further. The railways will continue to maintain a fleet of around 2,000 diesel locomotives for contingencies and other needs.
