Lok Sabha Question No. 4363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-26
Subject: Net Zero Emission Target
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky, Shri Manish Jaiswal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4363 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.03.2025

## NET ZERO EMISSION TARGET

## 4363 SHRI MAHENDRA SINGH SOLANKY: SHRI MANISH JAISWAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the detail of current status of Indian Railways' Net Zero Emission target and the progress made so far;
- (b) the detail of total percentage of electrified Railway Tracks as of 2025 and the projected timeline for achieving 100% electrification;
- (c) the  detail  of  projected  renewable  energy  capacity  required  to meet the traction power demand of 10,000 MW by 2030; and
- (d) whether  Railways  plans  to  invest  in  or  co-develop  solar  parks under  the  (Design,  Build,  Finance,  Own,  and  Operate  DBFOO model, if so the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (d) Indian Railways has envisioned to become net zero carbon emitter through offsetting carbon emissions with the usage of power

through non-fossil sources, saving in diesel consumption by electrification  of  railway  tracks,  consistent  efforts  directed  towards modal  shifting  of  cargo  and  passenger  from  road  to  rail,  harnessing hydrogen  gas  to  drive  train  sets  etc.  Through  these  efforts,  Indian Railways  are  on  way  to  achieve  net  zero  carbon  emitter  status  for scope 1 emissions.

About  98% of  the  total  BG  network  of  the  Indian  Railways  has been electrified. Electrification carried out during 2014-24 and before 2014 is as under:

| Period                       | Route Kilometer   |
|------------------------------|-------------------|
| Before 2014 (about 60 years) | 21,801            |
| 2014-25 (upto Feb' 2025)     | 45,922            |

The  completion  of  Electrification  project(s)  depends  on  various factors like forest clearances by officials of forest department, shifting of  infringing  utilities,  statutory  clearances  from  various  authorities, geological and topographical conditions of area, law & order situation in the area of project(s) site, number of working months in a year for particular project site due to climatic conditions etc. All these factors affect the completion time of project(s).

To  enhance  the  share  of  renewable  energy,  a  combination  of solar, wind and other renewable sources is planned based on strategic power  procurement  planning.  Most  of  the  renewable  power  projects for  Indian  Railways  have  been  taken  up  under  Power  Purchase Agreement (developer mode).

## The details of Renewable power capacities commissioned as of February' 2025 is as under:

| Renewable power capacities commissioned      | Renewable power capacities commissioned   |
|----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| Solar (Rooftop + Land)                       | 553 MW                                    |
| Wind                                         | 103 MW                                    |
| RTC (Round The Clock) (Hybrid- Solar + wind) | 100 MW                                    |
| Total                                        | 756 MW                                    |

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