Jammu and Kashmir has achieved complete electrification of its entire broad gauge railway network, placing the Union Territory among the fully electrified regions of the country, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Official data presented in the Lok Sabha confirmed that 100 per cent of the broad gauge network in J&K now operates on electric traction, marking a major milestone in the region’s rail infrastructure modernisation.
The Ministry of Railways said railway electrification is being pursued in mission mode across India, with about 99.2 per cent of the national broad gauge network electrified so far. Jammu and Kashmir is among the States and Union Territories that have already achieved full electrification, along with Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu are yet to reach the 100 per cent mark, with electrification levels at 99 per cent and 97 per cent respectively.
Electrification in Jammu and Kashmir has progressed alongside other hill and border regions, including the North Eastern States. Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram have completed electrification of their existing broad gauge networks, while Assam has achieved 92 per cent, with remaining sections currently under execution.
At the national level, Indian Railways has electrified 46,900 route kilometres since 2014, compared to 21,801 route kilometres electrified during the previous six decades before 2014. In recent years, the pace has remained strong, with 7,188 route kilometres electrified in 2023–24 and 2,701 route kilometres in 2024–25.
Zone-wise data shows Northern Railway, which covers Jammu and Kashmir, has achieved 100 per cent electrification. North Western Railway and Southern Railway stand at 98 per cent, while Northeast Frontier Railway and South Western Railway have reached 95 per cent. The Ministry added that all new line and multi-tracking projects are now sanctioned and executed with electrification as a mandatory component.
Highlighting environmental gains, the Ministry said near-total electrification is central to Indian Railways’ sustainability goals. Railways recorded a reduction of 136 crore litres in diesel consumption for traction in 2023–24 compared to 2018–19. While State-wise data on fuel savings is not maintained, national assessments indicate that rail transport emits nearly 89 per cent less carbon dioxide per tonne-kilometre than road transport, as cited from a NITI Aayog report.
To fully leverage electrification, Indian Railways is also focusing on improving speeds and haulage capacity through induction of higher horsepower locomotives, operation of longer and heavier freight trains, multitracking of congested sections, and modernisation of track and signalling systems. Officials said these measures will benefit fully electrified regions like Jammu and Kashmir, enabling more efficient, reliable and sustainable rail operations in the years ahead.
