**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 1900 in Lok Sabha concerning the expenditure on maintenance of electric and diesel locomotives, as well as the feasibility of using ethanol or biodiesel. The answer, provided by the Minister of Railways, highlights the shift towards electric traction due to environmental and cost benefits. The question was to be answered on 11.02.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Shift to Electric Traction:**
* Electric traction is preferred over diesel traction for being more environment friendly and energy efficient.
* Indian Railways is actively electrifying its network in mission mode.
* 99.4% of the Broad Gauge (BG) network has been electrified.
* **Electrification Progress:**
* Before 2014 (approximately 60 years), 21,801 route kilometers were electrified.
* Between 2014-25, 46,900 route kilometers were electrified.
* **Diesel Consumption Reduction:**
* Electrification has led to a reduction in diesel consumption.
* Indian Railways saved 178 crore litres of diesel in 2024-25 compared to 2016-17, representing a 62% saving.
* This reduces the import dependency of crude oil.
* **Expenditure on Energy Consumption:**
* The amount spent by Indian Railways on total energy consumption for traction during 2024-25 is ₹ 32,378 crores.
* **Maintenance Expenditure Details:**
* Details on the amount spent on the maintenance of electric and diesel locomotives are available in the Annual Statistical Statement of Indian Railways on their website (https://indianrailways.gov.in).
* **Bio-diesel Considerations:**
* Railways are moving toward electric traction because of environmental and cost considerations.
* While tests on bio-diesel have been done, electric traction is far more beneficial than bio-diesel.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Railways**
* **Impact:**
* The Ministry is tasked with reducing expenditure, embracing sustainability, and furthering the adoption of electric traction.
* The Ministry is now responsible for publishing Annual Statistical Statements related to expenditure on locomotives.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue the electrification mission to reduce reliance on diesel.
* Monitor and analyze the cost and environmental benefits of electric traction.
* Ensure transparency by maintaining and updating the Annual Statistical Statement on the website.
**Stakeholders: General Public/Passengers**
* **Impact:**
* Improved environmental impact due to reduced diesel consumption.
* **Action Required:**
* No specific action required.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The primary government entity responsible for the subject matter of the unstarred question relating to expenditure on electric and diesel locomotives.
Indian Railways: The organization whose operations are the subject of the inquiry, regarding expenditure on fuel and locomotive maintenance and railway electrification.
Electrification of railway network: A program being undertaken to convert railway traction from diesel to electric, which is a key factor in reducing diesel consumption.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1900
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026
EXPENDITURE ON MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRIC AND DIESEL
LOCOMOTIVES
†1900. SMT. MANJU SHARMA:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of amount spent annually by Railways on high speed diesel;
(b) the details of the annual bill amount for the diesel based fuel used by
Railways;
(c) the details of the amount spent annually by Indian Railways on the
maintenance of electric and diesel locomotives separately;
(d) whether it is possible to develop and operate locomotives which can be
run using ethanol or biodiesel; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (e). Electric traction is more environment friendly and energy efficient
than Diesel traction. Accordingly, Electrification of railway network on
Indian Railways has been taken up in mission mode. So far, 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 Kilometre
Before 2014 (about 60 years) 21,801
2014-25 46,900
§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.
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