The railways register a 371% increase in electrification during 2014-2; more than 66% electrified tracks | Photo credit: PTI
New Delhi: Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Railways, Trade and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, inaugurated the newly electrified Dhigawara-Bandikui section of the North Western Railway and stopped the first train of this new electrified route at the function organized in the Dhigawara station. On this occasion, public representatives and senior railway officials were present.
Goyal, in his speech, said that Indian Railways is progressing in a staggered manner with fast pace and quality and is achieving great achievements with everyone’s cooperation, teamwork and motivation.
He added that electrification work was carried out on the Kota-Mumbai line in Rajasthan 35 years ago, after no one paid attention to this area. While working on this in the railways, a target has been set to electrify the entire percentage of rail lines across India.
Speaking of Rajasthan, the minister said that up to 2009-14, there were 0 km of electrification work in this area, which was 1433 km in the last five and a half years (until September 2020), that is, 240 km of route was they electrified every year. He said that there has been a shift in thinking over the years and there has been a change in the way we work. Today, after the electrification of this line, the route from Rewari to Ajmer has been electrified and now electrified trains from Delhi to Ajmer will start soon.
After these trains run, the diesel trains will be stopped, eliminating pollution and dependence on imported fuel from abroad and the trains will be operated on electricity produced in self-sufficient India, which will also save significant revenue. Apart from this, the average speed of the trains will increase and there will be development of industries, agricultural-based businesses and progress of villagers and farmers. To avoid any inconvenience to farmers, Kisan Rail is being operated by railways to transport their agricultural products. The government is committed to the progress of farmers.
He also called on everyone to follow the Covid Protocol, wear masks, maintain social distancing and take care of hygiene.
The electrification work is carried out by the Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE), Prayagraj. The electrification work of the Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Madar (Ajmer) section was sanctioned by CORE and delivered to the Rail Electrification project, Jaipur. A total of 23,418 foundations, 26 switching stations, 6 traction substations and 7 OHE depots have been installed for electrification in Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Madar (Ajmer).
