Railways set a target to electrify 2000 km-long route

Increasing the outlay for electrification, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today said the Centre has targeted completing the entire electric traction in the next few years.
Presenting the Rail Budget, Prabhu announced plans to electrify 2000 kms of rail line next year and increase electrification budget by 50 per cent.
Electrical traction is more economical besides being environment friendly. In a business-as-usual approach, it may take us 10-15 years to complete the required electrification which government is targeting to accomplish in the next few years, Prabhu said while presenting his second Rail Budget.
The length of route electrified last year stood at 1600 km.

Currently only about 40 per cent of railway lines are electrified while the rest are on diesel traction.