Lok Sabha Question No. 1351 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Electrification of Railway Network
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, Shrirang Appa Barne, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL, DHARMENDRA YADAV, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, ANANDRAO  ADSUL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1351 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## ELECTRIFICATION OF RAILWAY NETWORK

1351.    DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE:

SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO:

SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  has  launched  grand  drive  of  100  per cent electrification of the country's railway network and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the present status of the electrification of railways network in the country;
- (c) whether the decision to electrify 100 per cent of the network was  taken  without  adequate  multi-disciplinary  high  level consultations and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  there  is  a  need  for  100%  electrification  especially when massive working infrastructure is already in place for diesel traction and if so, the response of the Union Government thereon;
- (e) whether the US multinational General Electric had signed an agreement with the Government in 2015 to build the modern diesel locomotive factory in a joint venture with the Railways to supply 1,000 high horsepower diesel engines exclusively to the Indian Railways over 10 years; and
- (f) if so, the fate of the aforesaid agreement?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1351  BY DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE, SHRI ADHALRAO  PATIL  SHIVAJIRAO,  SHRI  KUNWAR  PUSHPENDRA  SINGH CHANDEL,  SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV,  DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE  AND  SHRI  ANANDRAO  ADSUL    TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK SABHA  ON  25.07.2018  REGARDING  ELECTRIFICATION  OF  RAILWAY NETWORK

- (a) Ministry  of  Railways  has  planned  to  optimally  electrify  balance Broad  Gauge  (BG)  routes  of  Indian  Railways.  Balance  unsanctioned work  of  non-electrified  routes  of  13675  route  kilometer  has    been included  in  Budget  2018-19  and  will  be  taken  up  for  execution  for optimal length after requisite sanctions.
- (b) As  on  01.04.2018  status  of  Railway  Electrification  on  various gauges  on Indian Railways is as under:-
- (c) No, Madam.  Decision for requirement of electrification of balance un-electrified  Broad  Gauge  (BG)  routes,  has  been  taken  after  multidisciplinary  high  level  consultation  with  NITI  Aayog  &  Ministry  of Finance.
- (d) Yes,  Madam.      It  is  an  operational  necessity  to  electrify  the balance  Broad  Gauge  routes  for  seamless  train  operation  on  electric traction by eliminating detention of trains due to change of traction from diesel to electric and vice versa .  Existing infrastructure of diesel sheds will be used for maintenance of electrical locomotives. Electrification of

|             | Broad Gauge   | Meter Gauge   | Narrow Gauge   | TOTAL   |
|-------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|---------|
| Route       | 61680         | 3479          | 2209           | 67368   |
| Kilometers  |               |               |                |         |
| Electrified | 30212         | -             | --             | 30212   |
| Un-         | 31468         | 3479          | 2209           | 37156   |
| electrified |               |               |                |         |

## Balance BG network will entail following advantages:-

- (i) Haulage  of  heavier  freight  trains  and  longer  passenger trains with high haulage capacity of Electric Locomotives
- (ii) Increased  sectional  capacity  by  eliminating  detention  on account of traction change.
- (iii) Reduced Operating and maintenance Cost of Electric Loco.
- (iv) Environmental friendly mode of transport.
- (v) Reduced dependence on imported diesel fuel.
- (e)       Yes, Madam. This agreement is for procurement of diesel locomotives  which  would  be  better  than  conventionally  used diesel  locomotives  in  terms  of  impact  on  environment,  fuel efficiency and higher reliability. Further, these diesel locomotives  shall  be  deployed  for  strategic  operational  and emergency need even after electrification.
- (f) The Agreement is in force and under execution.

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