Aiming towards the vision of Green Railway by 2030, fast-tracking electrification of its network, South Western Railway has attained 511.7 route km of electrification as of 28.03.2022 surpassing the Railway board target of 459 Route km for the Financial year 2021 – 22.
In the previous financial year 2020-21, South Western Railway had achieved 476.7 Route km of electrification of its network.
The following sections over South Western Railway have been launched after electrification in March 2022:
Yelahanka – Chikkaballapur (45 Route km), Tumakuru – Nitturu (27 Route Kms), Sivadi – Omluru (44 Route km), Hosadurga – Chikjajur (30 Route km), Alnavar – Ambewadi (26 Route km) Gadag – Hole Alur (48 Route km), Kudachi – Ghataprabha (47 Route km) and Londa – Tinaighat (11 Route km).
General Manager Shri Sanjeev Kishore told the media that no stone is left unturned to attain and exceed targets. He said that the close coordination and cooperation between Divisions and among Operations and Electrical Departments enabled timely availability of line blocks to erect electrical infrastructure. He has conveyed his gratitude for the outstanding efforts of Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), which are the implementing agencies if electrification works over the South Western Railway.
With the completion of this electrification, South Western Railway will operate more trains with electrical engines for a significant part of the route, which is likely to decrease the diesel consumption considerably daily. It will not just decrease diesel and fossil fuel dependency but also enhance the line capacity and speed up trains’ enhancing punctuality.
From about 200+ RKM in 2016, the electrified track on SWR has now risen to 1734 out of a total of 3566 Route km of its network.
Also read: South Western Railway commissions double-track project in Goa