The Hindu Business Line : Lalu for speeding up rail route electrification

New Delhi, Oct. 21 On the back of rising high speed diesel fuel bill for the Railways, Mr Lalu Prasad, Railway Minister, has called for increasing the pace of electrification.

He was speaking at a seminar organised by Institution of Railway Electrical Engineers.

At present, 28 per cent of route on Indian Railways is electrified.

The Railways moves about half of its passenger traffic and 62 per cent of freight traffic using electric traction.

Mr Prasad said that energy accounts for 25 per cent of working expenses of the Indian Railways out of which 15 per cent is spent on diesel and 10 per cent on electricity.

Mr K.C. Jena, Chairman, Railway Board, said the total electricity drawn by the Railways is about 2.5 per cent of the total electricity generated in the country.

“At current prices, about Rs 8,000 crore is spent on diesel oil and Rs 5,000 crore on electricity for traction each year,” Mr Jena said.

However, the energy consumption on non-traction sector – at about Rs 1,000 crore per year – is likely to increase as the Railways improves facilities and amenities for users.

The Minister hoped that the captive power plant of Railways – being set up at Nabinagar in cooperation of NTPC – will ensure adequate electricity supply to the Railways at a low cost.

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