Konkan Railway achieves 100% electrification target in their network

Navi Mumbai, India (Urban Transport News): Indian Railways is on a mission mode to electrify its entire Broad Gauge network to provide environment friendly, green & clean mode of transport to its people under the  ‘Mission 100% Electrification - Moving towards net Zero Carbon Emission’ plan.

In view of the above, making an important step towards green transportation one of India's biggest stretches of Railway Electrification, Konkan Railway has been accomplished under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways Raosaheb Patil Danve & Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways Smt. Darshana Jardosh.

The foundation stone for the Electrification of the entire 741 kms route work was laid in November 2015. The total cost of the project is  ₹1,287 crore. The CRS inspection of the entire Konkan Railway route has been successfully conducted in six phases starting from March 2020. CRS inspection of the last section between Ratnagiri & Thivim was carried out on March 24, 2022 and authorisation was obtained on March 28, 2022.

The electrification project has been challenging due to the difficult terrain of Konkan Railway & non conducive atmosphere due to Covid - 19 Pandemic. Moreover due to the extreme monsoon in the Konkan region, special arrangements had to be made at many locations to keep the electrification mission going non-stop.

It is worthwhile to note the numerous inherent benefits of electric traction i.e. Significant savings in fuel expenditure i.e more than ₹150 crore, Seamless operation on Electric Traction on the West Coast, pollution free mode of transportation and Reduced dependence on HSD oil.

Konkan Railway being one of the biggest railway routes on the Indian Railway network, the train operations with electric traction will be implemented on the newly electrified KR route in a phased manner.