New Delhi: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved a proposal worth over Rs. 12,000 crore for electrification of 13,675 kilometres rout of the broad gauge tracks, said Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.
The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.
Cabinet approves 100% Electrification of Broad Gauge Railway Routes. This decision will lead to greater efficiency in train operations, savings in fuel bill, reduced carbon footprint and employment generation. #ElectrifiedRailways pic.twitter.com/KSC64ZhsLa
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) September 12, 2018
Briefing the press, Goyal said, “The Prime Minister is aiming to make the Indian Railways more profitable and reduce the cost burden on the passengers for which we have decided electrification of remaining un-electrified broad gauge routes.”
“Post electrification, railway is likely to save over Rs.13, 500 crore per annum in fuel bill. It will generate direct employment of about 20.4 crore man-days during the period of construction,” he added.
The Minister, however, said the national transport monolith would continue to require diesel engines for border areas and standby.
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