Indian Railways Expected To Become Net-Zero Emission Network By 2030, Run On Clean Energy: Piyush Goyal

Indian Railways is planning to turn into a “net-zero emission network” by 2030, Union Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal said on Monday (27 January), adding, “We will have no emission from the railways, it will run on clean energy and clean power.”

As reported by Livemint, Goyal stressed upon India’s wish to partner with Brazil to achieve the goal. “India would also love to work together with Brazil on infrastructure development,” he said, at the India-Brazil Business Forum.

The Minister, addressing the gathering at the event, highlighted that India offered a market full of young working people that is leaping to grow to a $5 trillion economy, while adding that the country was a “vibrant and free society with the rule of law, strong judiciary and media, stable government policies and business-friendly environment.”

Speaking at the forum, organised during Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's official visit to India as its Republic Day chief guest, the Railway Minister also said Indian Railways was working to switch completely to electricity by 2024.

“By the year 2024, we expect the entire Indian Railways to be run 100 per cent on electricity. It will be the first railway network in the world to be run fully on electricity. We are very conscious of our responsibility to the environment. We are embarking on rapid electrification of our rail network,” said Goyal.

The railways had already begun to give up locomotive diesel engines, putting them gradually out of service, he added.