Railways to go slow on electrification

Board feels most high-density routes electrified

The railways have decided to go slow on track electrification in the next 10 years. The move follows a decade of aggressive electrification that resulted in 65 per cent of the traffic being carried on electrified routes.

According to the electrification plan for the next ten years, the railways have identified 2,600 km of tracks for electrification, while more than 5,100 km had been electrified during the Eighth and the Ninth Plan.

The blue-print, passed by the railway board, states that high-density routes were either already electrified or being electrified under the National Rail Vikas Yojana (NRVY).

"The railways should concentrate on consolidating and completing the present electrification work rather than going in for unbridled electrification," the report stated.

It has noted that with high-density routes already covered, the ministry, before taking up future electrification projects, will consider the completion of the golden quadrilateral and the missing links.

For the next decade, the blue-print has identified 6 routes, including the entire B-route of Northern Railways, the Pune-Guntakhal route and the Bina-Kota route for electrification at a cost of Rs 1,600 crore.

According to ministry officials, the electrification of these routes will help the government save Rs 265 crore annually on account of lower energy consumption. As a result, the capital investment on electrification of these routes is expected to be repaid within 4 years.

The blue-print has also suggested that the need for running diesel under-wire trains on selective basis be examined to ensure the availability of diesel locomotives in case of disasters and break-down of overhead electrical wires.

The proposal, however, has not been approved by some of the railway board members, who have said this will just lead to duplication of investment.

The ministry officials feel that the recommendation of the 10-year electrification plan report could be adopted instead. It has asked for a feasibility study for developing appropriate locomotives that will run with electric traction and diesel. These locomotives will be used in emergencies. The board seems to be more receptive to this proposal.

Track record

Power plans: The railways have identified 2,600 km of tracks for electrification. More than 5,100 km had been electrified during the Eighth and the Ninth Plan

The thinking: Concentrate on completing the present electrification work rather than going in for unbridled electrification; complete the golden quadrilateral