By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha said that the Indian Railways (IR) has embarked upon a major electrification program to electrify its Broad Gauge (BG) network on Mission mode.
Indian Railways has total Broad Gauge (BG) network of 64,689 Route kilometer (RKM) including 740 RKM of Konkan Railway. Out of these 45,881 RKM i.e. about 71% has already been electrified till 31.03.2021. Electrification work is in progress under different stages of planning/execution on balance BG routes of IR, which are being electrified expeditiously.
During 2020-21, 6,015 RKMs have been electrified against the target of 6,000 RKM. Funds to the Railway Electrification projects are allocated project wise, not Zone wise. To complete the projects in time, various steps have been taken which include among others award of large size Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts, better project monitoring mechanism, assured/committed funds through ‘Extra Budgetary Resource’ (Institutional Finance), decentralization of powers to field units etc.
To contain spread of COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Railways have discontinued all regular passenger trains w.e.f 23rd March, 2020. Presently, only special trains, keeping in view the suggestions and concerns of the State Governments and health advisories issued, are being operated. Indian Railways is keeping a close watch on the occupancy and waitlist position of these special trains and is operating “Clone trains”, on routes where traffic demand is high. As on 26.07.2021, 22 Clone trains are being operated, the Minister added.
