**Executive Summary**
This report highlights the Indian Railways' progress in electrification, which is expected to reduce diesel consumption by 178 crore litres in 2024-25, a 62% reduction since 2016-17. 25 states have achieved 100% railway electrification. The document also outlines waste management initiatives aimed at improving passenger experience. This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha on February 11 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Electrification Progress:**
* Approximately 99.4% of the Broad Gauge (BG) railway network has been electrified.
* Between 2014-25, 46,900 route kilometers were electrified, compared to 21,801 kilometers before 2014.
* 10,932 Rkm electrification has been done since 2023-24 till January 2026.
* All new line/multi-tracking projects are being sanctioned and constructed with electrification.
* Expenditure of Rs. 29,826 crore has been done on railway electrification projects during the last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25), including Tamil Nadu.
* **Diesel Consumption Reduction:**
* Indian Railways expects to save 178 crore litres of diesel in 2024-25 compared to 2016-17.
* This represents a 62% reduction, decreasing the dependency on crude oil imports.
* **Financials:**
* The total energy consumption for traction by Indian Railways during 2024-25 is ₹ 32,378 crores.
* **Waste Management Initiatives:**
* Waste collected in trains is disposed of at nominated en-route stations.
* On Board Housekeeping Staff are mandated not to throw garbage on tracks and strict penalties are imposed on violation.
* Rag picking is done along railway tracks to maintain cleanliness.
* Plastic Bottle Crushing Machines (PBCMs) are installed at stations as per requirement.
* Provision of two bin type dustbins has been carried out at various stations for segregation of bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste, at source.
* Tie-ups for waste disposal are established between local Railway authorities and municipal bodies based on local conditions, feasibility and requirements.
* Infrastructure such as Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs), and Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) are installed and commissioned as needed.
* Passenger awareness campaigns encourage disposal of garbage in provided dustbins.
* Supervisors/senior officials conduct regular checks/surprise checks.
* Special Cleanliness Campaigns under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are organized regularly.
* Bio-toilets have been installed to eliminate direct discharge of human waste, with 3,61,572 fitted since 2014. Between 2004-14, 9,587 bio-toilets were fitted.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Indian Railways**
* **Impact:** Significantly reducing diesel consumption and dependency on crude oil imports, leading to cost savings and environmental benefits. Enhanced reputation through improved cleanliness and passenger experience.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing electrification projects, maintain and expand waste management infrastructure, and enforce cleanliness standards.
**Stakeholder: Passengers**
* **Impact:** Improved travel experience through cleaner trains and stations, and a more hygienic environment due to bio-toilets and waste management initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Dispose of garbage in provided dustbins and cooperate with cleanliness campaigns.
**Stakeholder: Central and State Governments**
* **Impact:** Contribution to national goals of reducing import dependency and promoting environmental sustainability.
* **Action Required:** Provide necessary clearances and support for railway electrification projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Railways: The primary entity responsible for railway electrification and waste management initiatives described in the document.
Railway Electrification: The main focus of the document, aiming to reduce diesel consumption and achieve 100% electrification across states.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: The cleanliness campaign under which the Indian Railways organizes special drives.
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry responsible for overseeing the electrification and waste management efforts of Indian Railways.
Ministry of Railways
Indian Railways Electrification Cuts Diesel
Consumption by 178 Crore Litres in 2024–25,
Achieving a 62% Reduction Since 2016–17
25 States Achieve 100% Railway Electrification; 10,932 Route
Kilometres Electrified Since 2023–24
Advanced Waste Management Including Bio-Toilets,
Segregated Bins, Sewage Treatment, Bottle Crushing
Machines, and Swachh Bharat Campaigns Enhancing
Passenger Experience
Posted On: 11 FEB 2026 5:48PM by PIB Delhi
Electrification of railway network on Indian Railways (IR) has been taken up in mission mode. So far, about
99.4% of Broad Gauge (BG) network has been electrified. The electrification in remaining network has been
taken up. Electrification carried out during 2014-25 and before 2014 is as under:
Period Route Kilometer
Before 2014 (about 60 years) 21,801
2014-25 46,900
Zone wise status of electrification is as under:
SN ZONE % Electrified
1 Central Railway 100%
2 East Coast Railway 100%
3 East Central Railway 100%
4 Eastern Railway 100%
5 Konkan Railway 100%6 Kolkata Metro 100%
7 North Central Railway 100%
8 North Eastern Railway 100%
9 Northern Railway 100%
10 South Central Railway 100%
11 South East Central Railway 100%
12 South Eastern Railway 100%
13 West Central Railway 100%
14 Western Railway 100%
15 North Western Railway 99%
16 Northeast Frontier Railway 99%
17 Southern Railway 98%
18 South Western Railway 96%
State/UT wise status of electrification is as under:
STATE % Electrified STATE % Electrified
SN SN
1 Andhra Pradesh 100% 16 Mizoram 100%
2 Arunachal Pradesh 100% 17 Nagaland 100%
3 Bihar 100% 18 Odisha 100%
4 Chandigarh 100% 19 Puducherry 100%
5 Chhattisgarh 100% 20 Punjab 100%
6 Delhi 100% 21 Telangana 100%
7 Gujarat 100% 22 Tripura 100%8 Haryana 100% 23 Uttar Pradesh 100%
9 Himachal Pradesh 100% 24 Uttarakhand 100%
10 Jammu & Kashmir 100% 25 West Bengal 100%
11 Jharkhand 100% 26 Rajasthan 99%
12 Kerala 100% 27 Assam 98%
13 Madhya Pradesh 100% 28 Tamil Nadu 97%
14 Maharashtra 100% 29 Karnataka 97%
15 Meghalaya 100% 30 Goa 91%
All new line / multi-tracking projects are being sanctioned and constructed with electrification.
During last five years (2020-21 to 2024-25), expenditure amounting to Rs. 29,826 crore has been done on
railway electrification projects including Tamil Nadu.
Since 2023-24, 10,932 Rkm electrification has been done till Jan’ 2026.
The completion of Electrification project(s) depends on various factors like forest clearances by officials
of forest department, shifting of infringing utilities, statutory clearances from various authorities,
geological and topographical conditions of area, law & order situation in the area of project(s) site,
number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic conditions etc. All these
factors affect the completion time of the project(s).
With electrification, there has been reduction in the consumption of diesel on Indian Railways. Indian
Railways have been able to save 178 crore litre in Diesel consumption in the year 2024-25 with respect to
2016-17, which is a saving of 62%, thus reducing the import dependency of crude oil.
Amount spent by Indian Railways on total energy consumption for traction during 2024-25 is ₹ 32,378
crores.
Details of the amount spent by Indian Railways on the maintenance of electric and diesel locomotives are
available in Annual Statistical Statement of Indian Railways which is available on website of Indian
Railways (https://indianrailways.gov.in).
Railways is moving towards electric traction because of the environmental and cost considerations. While
tests on bio-diesel have been done, electric traction is far more beneficial than bio-diesel.
Waste Management
Effective management including disposal of waste generated in trains and Railway stations, catering units
and coaches is accorded high priority by Indian Railways for enhanced users’ experience. Various
initiatives taken in this regard are as follows:-
• Waste collected inside trains is disposed of at nominated en-route stations, identified for waste
disposal.• On Board Housekeeping Staff are strictly mandated not to throw garbage on tracks and strict
penalties are imposed on violation.
• Rag picking is done along railway tracks to maintain cleanliness.
• Plastic Bottle Crushing Machines (PBCMs) are installed at stations as per requirement.
• Provision of two bin type dustbins has been carried out at various stations for segregation of bio-
degradable and non-biodegradable waste, at source.
• Based on local conditions, feasibility and requirement, tie-ups for waste disposal, have been made
between local Railway authorities and municipal bodies.
• Infrastructure like Sewage treatment plants (STPs), Effluent Treatment plants (ETPs), Material
Recovery Facility (MRF) has been installed and commissioned, on need basis, at a number of
locations over Indian Railways.
• Passenger awareness campaigns are regularly conducted across Indian Railways for encouraging
them to dispose garbage in dustbins provided in trains.
• Regular checks/surprise checks are conducted by supervisors/senior officials at Divisional, Zonal &
Headquarter level.
• Special Cleanliness Campaigns under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and cleanliness drives/campaigns are
organized regularly over Indian Railways with the objective to achieve significant and sustainable
improvements in cleanliness standards.
• Elimination of direct discharge of human waste from trains through installation of bio-toilets in
passenger coaches. The details of provision of Bio-toilets are as under:
Period No. of Bio-Toilets fitted
2004-14 9,587
2014-till date 3,61,572
This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and
Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha
today.
*****
Dharmendra Tewari/ Dr. Nayan Solanki/ Manik Sharma
(Release ID: 2226551) Visitor Counter : 254
Read this release in: Urdu , ही