Jaipur: Moving towards environment friendly operations the electrification of entire broad-gauge lines in Rajasthan would get complete by March 2024. The Railway Ministry has allocated a fund of Rs 1217 crores for electrification in the recent railway budget.
Rajasthan is divided into six railway divisions of which four – Jaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur – fall under North Western Railway. The rest two – Kota and Bharatpur divisions – fall under West Central Railway and North Central Railway.
“Electrification in Kota and Bharatpur divisions are over. However, under our jurisdiction only in Jaipur division we had completed 100% electrification. We would utilize the budget allocation and complete electrification for the remaining lines by March 2024,” said a NWR spokesperson.
At present, out of 5,449.29 kms of railway tracks under NWR, 3,531 kms had been electrified. NCR would electrify the remaining 2,000-odd kms by March 2024. “The entire fund to electrify the remaining 2,000 kms had been allocated in this budget,” the spokesperson added.
Officials said, with electrification, Rajasthan will not have to depend on diesel engines – which cause high pollution – and it will also reduce dependence on fuel imports. The load capacity electric locomotives is also higher. “Most important, we can operate more trains as electric locomotives have faster acceleration or deacceleration compared to conventional trains. The average speed is also higher of electric locomotives and and it is faster. Electrification would help railway services in Rajasthan to a great extent,” added the senior official.
Officials said, in the coming years, with more advanced technology being used in Indian Railways, electrification will be helpful as many trains proposed for this region will run on electricity. “This list includes several Vande Bharat Express trains as well,” said a railway official.
Rajasthan is divided into six railway divisions of which four – Jaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur – fall under North Western Railway. The rest two – Kota and Bharatpur divisions – fall under West Central Railway and North Central Railway.
“Electrification in Kota and Bharatpur divisions are over. However, under our jurisdiction only in Jaipur division we had completed 100% electrification. We would utilize the budget allocation and complete electrification for the remaining lines by March 2024,” said a NWR spokesperson.
At present, out of 5,449.29 kms of railway tracks under NWR, 3,531 kms had been electrified. NCR would electrify the remaining 2,000-odd kms by March 2024. “The entire fund to electrify the remaining 2,000 kms had been allocated in this budget,” the spokesperson added.
Officials said, with electrification, Rajasthan will not have to depend on diesel engines – which cause high pollution – and it will also reduce dependence on fuel imports. The load capacity electric locomotives is also higher. “Most important, we can operate more trains as electric locomotives have faster acceleration or deacceleration compared to conventional trains. The average speed is also higher of electric locomotives and and it is faster. Electrification would help railway services in Rajasthan to a great extent,” added the senior official.
Officials said, in the coming years, with more advanced technology being used in Indian Railways, electrification will be helpful as many trains proposed for this region will run on electricity. “This list includes several Vande Bharat Express trains as well,” said a railway official.
