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Delays in Indian Railways Electrification
Last-Mile Blues for Railways’ Total Electrification Project
Context: Indian Railways’ ambitious project to fully electrify its broad-gauge network is facing delays, with completion now projected by the end of FY26, according to a person familiar with the matter.
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- The government had originally targeted completion within the first 100 days of the new administration, by September 2024.
- However, bottlenecks, especially in the northeastern and southern regions—mainly last-mile connectivity issues—have slowed progress.
Status of Electrification Progress
- As per the latest data from the Ministry of Railways, by March 2025, Indian Railways had electrified 68,701 km, or 98.83% of its total 69,512 km broad-gauge network.
- The remaining 811 km are proving difficult to complete due to complex terrains and infrastructure challenges.
- In FY25, the railways managed to electrify only 2,701 km—significantly lower than the usual annual pace of over 6,000 km achieved consistently since FY19.
- The unfinished sections include:
- Assam: 382 km
- Tamil Nadu: 169 km
- Karnataka: 151 km
- Rajasthan: 93 km
- Goa: 16 km
- Notably, while Tripura has achieved full electrification, Assam remains a major challenge, delaying the overall timeline.
Reasons Behind the Delay
- According to a former Railway Board member (engineering), the final stages of electrification involve intricate work across bridges, tunnels, sharp curves, and heavily built-up areas, requiring precise coordination with existing rail, road, and bridge infrastructure.
- This complexity naturally slows construction during the final phase.
- Despite this, Indian Railways’ electrification program has been among the fastest globally, consistently surpassing the 6,000 km mark annually from FY21 to FY24. In FY23 alone, over 6,500 km were electrified.
Budgetary Support and Future Plans
- The government has allocated ₹6,159 crore for railway electrification projects in the FY26 budget, including unspent funds from the previous financial year.
- Electrification is a key pillar of Indian Railways’ strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, with significant cost savings expected.
- The move could help reduce the railway’s annual fuel expenses, which currently exceed ₹15,000 crore.
- Across India, electrification is already complete in 25 states and union territories, while four have surpassed the 90% mark, and one has crossed 85%, according to official data.
Global Standing
- At 98.83% electrification, Indian Railways is outperforming major global counterparts, including the European Union (56%), the United Kingdom (38%), and the United States (1%).
- Only Switzerland, with a 99% electrification rate, leads India globally.
- While the initial pace of Indian Railways’ electrification—at over 16 route kilometers per day—has been the fastest in the world, the remaining stretches are expected to progress at a slower rate due to geographical and infrastructural challenges.
