Bengaluru railway division achieves 100% electrification of broad gauge network

The statutory inspection of railway electrification works, followed by a speed trial at full sectional speed (110 Kmph) in the Hirisave - Hassan section

In an environment-friendly move, Bengaluru railway division has achieved 100 percent electrification of broad gauge network.

According to the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification, electrification of entire track network in Bengaluru division of South Western Railway (SWR) has been completed.

"The statutory inspection of railway electrification works, followed by a speed trial at full sectional speed (110 kmph) in the Hirisave-Hassan section of Bengaluru division, SWR, was completed on December 19. With this, the Bengaluru division is now 100% electrified," it stated.

Kusuma Hariprasad, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Bengaluru division), confirmed the completion of electrification to Moneycontrol.

Bengaluru division comprises of 1,138 km of track network, with 971 km in Karnataka, 173 km in Tamil Nadu and 172 km in Andhra Pradesh.

On the delay in the traction substation (TSS) work at Chintamani on the Chikkaballapur-Kolar Section, Hariprasad said, "Around 95 % of the work on TSS is completed, and the remaining work will be completed by the end of this month."

Also, read: Bengaluru: First electric train service to Nandi Hills from December 11

Currently, electric trains are operating between Bengaluru and Chikkaballapur, and once the Chintamani traction substation is completed, railways can operate Memu (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) and freight trains between Bengaluru and Kolar.

While Indian Railways has set a deadline of 2023-2024 for 100% electrification of the entire broad-gauge network, 93 % (60,814 km route) of the total 65,532 km route has been completed as of December 1, 2023.

Among the 18 zones, 10 zones have achieved 100% electrification. SWR is the second least electrified railway zone in the country, with 80% (2,899 route km) of the 3,606 route km completed so far. Guwahati-based Northeast Frontier Railway is at the bottom, with 2,004 route km (48 %) of the 4,151 route km electrified.

Indian Railways aims to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030. The advantages include savings on account of reduced line haul costs (about 2.5 times lower), heavier haulage capacity, increased sectional capacity, reduced operating and maintenance costs of electric locomotives, an energy-efficient and eco-friendly mode of transportation with reduced dependence on imported crude oil, and savings of foreign exchange, according to railway officials.