India Achieves 99.6% Railway Electrification, Becomes World’s Second Most Electrified Rail Network

India has achieved a historic milestone in its railway modernization initiative with the electrification of 99.6% of its broad gauge (BG) railway network, putting Indian Railways at the second position in the list of the most electrified railway systems in the world after Switzerland. This report aired by the Ministry of Railways dated 22nd July 2026 highlights one of the fastest and largest railway electrification programs in the world.

India is 2nd Country with Most Electrified Rail  Network

Indian Railways have successfully reached almost complete electrification of their broad gauge network, with a high percentage of 99.6%, second in the world after Switzerland which has achieved full railway electrification.

Based on the International Union of Railways (UIC) report dated June 2025, India has outperformed numerous countries around the world in terms of railway electrification.

Railway Electrification by Countries

This outstanding achievement indicates the commitment of India towards establishment of railway networks which would be efficient and environment-friendly.

Railway Electrification Achievements Since 2014

Railway electrification has considerably speeded up in recent times.

Before 2014, Indian Railways had electrified a total of 21,801 route kilometers during a period of about 60 years. Yet in the period between 2014 and 2026, the country electrified 48,072 more kilometers, thus doubling the earlier rates.

Today, all the newly constructed railway routes and multi-tracking projects are actually constructed on the basis of electrification from the very start.

How Railway Electrification Contributes to Green Transport

Electrification has changed Indian Railways into one of the most environmentally friendly modes of transport.

Rail transport leads to much lower GHG emissions than road transport. Thus, according to the report of NITI Aayog, in case of rail transport, transporting one tone of goods by a kilometer leads to only 11.5 grams of CO₂ emissions. In comparison, for road transport this number is 101 grams.

Thus, rail transport produces about 89% less carbon dioxide emissions than the road transport leading to significant contribution to the achievement of India’s climate goals and clean energy transition.

Huge Decrease in Diesel Use

Railway electrification has resulted in a sharp reduction in diesel consumption.

The diesel amount used in railways has gone down from 293 crore litres in 2015-16 to 108 crore litres in 2024-25, a decline of 185 crore litres.

This decrease has helped India reduce its reliance on foreign fossil fuels, enabling the country to make substantial foreign currency savings while lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Less consumption of diesel also helps India achieve its wider aim of improving energy security and lowering dependence on foreign oil.

Renewable Energy Supplies Indian Railways

Electrification is only part of the green story. Indian Railways is also increasingly using green sources to generate energy.

As of June 2026, Railways has set up,

• 1,161 megawatts of solar power capacity, including rooftop and land-based projects.
• 103 megawatts of wind power capacity.

These projects are generating more than 1,260 megawatts of green energy for Indian Railways, thus helping Indian Railways reduce its carbon footprint in the quest to achieve net zero in the long run.

Railways also plans to harness hybrid renewable systems that combine solar, wind and energy storage technology for its future power needs.

Railways Reach Near Total Electrification

Most Railway Zones have become fully electrified; these include,

• Central Railway,
• Eastern Railway,
• Northern Railway,
• Western Railway,
• South Central Railway,
• East Coast Railway,
• North Eastern Railway,
• Konkan Railway,
• Kolkata Metro,
• West Central Railway,
• South Eastern Railway,
• South East Central Railway,
• North Central Railway,
• South Coast Railway.

Among the remaining zones,

• It is North Western Railway that has achieved 99.8% electrification,
• Northeast Frontier Railway has managed 98.7%,
• Southern Railway has also accomplished 98.7% electrification, and
• South Western Railway has performed at 96.1%.

Many States Have Achieved Full Electrification of Railways.

Railway electrification in most of the Indian states and union territories has become completed.

States like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Kerala, Odisha, Haryana, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand and many others have achieved full railway electrification.

For the other states,

• Rajasthan is at 99.8%.
• Tamil Nadu is at 98.3%.
• Assam is at 97.9%.
• Karnataka is at 96.8%.
• Goa is at 91.4%.

The remaining lengths of tracks are under the process of getting electrified.