Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a written reply, informed the Lok Sabha that the Indian Railways would require around 30.13 billion units of electricity after 100 per cent of its broad gauge lines.
The minister said this in reply to a query by BJP MP Rajesh Chudasama who wanted an update on the electrification. Vaishnaw said the Indian Railways is progressively procuring renewable energy from various sources for its present and future requirements.
He provided an overview of the current status of railway line electrification, highlighting substantial progress in electrifying broad gauge lines. “As of November 2023, a total of 60,814 km of broad gauge lines within Indian Railways have been electrified. Notably, 39,013 km of this electrification occurred between 2014 and November 2023, in contrast to the 5,188 km electrified during the period from 2004 to 2014,” Vaishnaw stated.
Indian Railways Improving Passenger Satisfaction
Earlier this month, Vaishnaw announced the installation of digital display boards in over 12,000 train coaches as part of Indian Railways’ efforts to enhance the passenger experience. These boards provide passengers with various types of information, including details about the next station, the destination, the current train status, and other safety messages.
Trains such as Vande Bharat, Push-Pull, TEJAS, Humsafar, and EMU and MEMU have been equipped with these display boards. Additionally, AC economy coaches and VISTADOME coaches, featuring glass roofs and expansive windows for panoramic views, also incorporate these informative display boards.
(With PTI inputs)