The government has approved 100% electrification of Indian Railways by 2021-22.
The move – aimed at cutting the national transporter’s fuel bill by more than ₹13,500 crore per year – will also improve train safety and speed. But PM’s Economic Advisory Council chairman Bibek Debroy feels an
immediate investment of over ₹1 lakh crore (including on replacement of diesel locos) may not be justifiable given the Railways has limited funds and other projects such as modernisation, network decongestion and expansion are also important. Nearly half of Indian trains run on diesel, compared to 33-43% for China, Russia and Europe and 99% for North America and Latin America.
Mr. Piyush Vedprakash Goyal is currently serving as the Minister of Railways and Coal in the Government of India
