NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said route electrification of railways in the country was going on full swing and by next year, work on 6,000 km will be completed.
”Electrification of locomotives is a good idea as it helps in saving foreign exchange and environment friendly also,” Mr Goyal said while responding to supplementary queries during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha.
He said a total 610 km was commissioned in 2013-2014 while it was 4,087 km in 2017-18 which is almost seven times the previous figure. The target is to reach 6,000 km of Broad Gauge routes by next year.
He said diesel locomotives will continue at lower level and used as a stand-by arrangement or in border areas, if required.
Mr Goyal said said they have found a new way so that diesel locomotives would be converted into electric ones at less cost than if their overhauling is done. ”No facility will go wasted, and this will be win win case,” he said.
He said Indian Railways had advertised its plan to offer A-1 and A category stations for redevelopment on ‘as is where is’ basis, by inviting open bids. Twenty three stations were taken up and bids wre received for only two stations — Jammu Tawi and Kozhikode — which are under evaluation. No bids were received for other stations, he added. (AGENCIES)
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