India Nears Full Rail Electrification, Paving Way for Net-Zero Operations and Cleaner Mobility

Indian Railways is on the verge of completing the electrification of its entire broad-gauge network, with more than 99% of route kilometres already electrified and the remaining sections expected to be completed shortly, according to the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

Between 2019 and 2025, Indian Railways electrified over 33,000 route kilometres, achieving an average pace of more than 15 route kilometres per day. The scale of this effort is comparable to the total railway network of Germany, underlining the magnitude and speed of India’s rail electrification programme.

As of now, 99.2% of India’s broad-gauge rail network has been electrified across 25 states and union territories, positioning the country among global leaders in clean rail traction despite operating one of the world’s largest and busiest railway systems.

The near-complete transition to electric traction has significantly reduced diesel consumption, lowered carbon emissions, and cut operational costs, while also improving train speed, efficiency, and reliability. In contrast, several advanced economies continue to rely on diesel traction due to financial or structural constraints.

With the final stretches nearing completion, India is set to operate one of the world’s largest fully electrified railway networks. The milestone supports Indian Railways’ long-term objective of achieving net-zero carbon emissions and delivering cleaner, faster, and more sustainable passenger mobility for millions of daily commuters.