Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw –

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that Indian Railways has accelerated its efforts towards decarbonisation with the sustained push for adopting the cleaner mode of transportation. This is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Panchamrit goals for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. In an article written in an English daily on the occasion of World Environment Day, Mr. Vaishnaw added that the Indian Railways is working on a multi-pronged approach to achieve the net-zero emission target. He highlighted that it is continuously engaged in shifting traffic from road to rail and powering operations with cleaner, greener energy sources. The Minister outlined the strategies of Indian Railways, mentioning that Railways is committed to building a sustainable and eco-friendly transportation system. He said, with over 700 crore passengers travelling in the past year alone, the national transporter is not just a lifeline for the country but also a key driver in the country’s transition toward a greener future. Over the past decade, freight transport by Railways has surged dramatically. He observed that Cargo movement has increased from over one thousand million tonnes in 2013-14 to one thousand 617 million tonnes in 2024-25, making Indian Railways the second-largest cargo carrier globally. The Minister stated that this transition has helped the country to save over 143 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to planting 121 crore trees. Highlighting the importance of transporting goods by Railways, the Minister outlined that transporting goods by rail costs nearly 50 per cent less in comparison to goods transported through roads. This shift has helped save three lakh 20 thousand crore rupees worth of logistics costs over the past decade.
 
In a significant stride toward energy self-reliance, Indian Railways has accelerated its electrification drive. Mr. Vaishnaw further highlighted that only 21 thousand kilometres of railway tracks were electrified till 2014, but in the last 11 years, 47 thousand kilometres of railway tracks were electrified. The Minister also highlighted that 99 percent of the broad-gauge network is now electrified, which has significantly reduced dependency on imported oil. Mr. Vaishnaw informed that Indian Railways is using green energy for stations, factories and workshops. Indian Railways is working closely with state governments to integrate green energy into train operations. Mr. Vaishnaw pointed out that Indian Railways is expected to achieve net-zero emissions by this year, which is five years ahead of schedule.