While addressing a public event in Ahmedabad, Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented a comprehensive account of the remarkable progress witnessed across the Indian railway network. He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation's transport sector has undergone an unprecedented transformation that stands out globally. Highlighting the changing face of the public transporter over the past 12 years, he shared detailed statistics covering infrastructure, electrification, and fuel efficiency.
Targeting Zero Diesel Consumption by 2030
Emphasizing environmental protection and energy conservation, Shah noted that the reliance on diesel within the railway system is being phased out systematically. During the 2015-16 fiscal period, the railways consumed 293 crore liters of diesel annually, a figure that has decreased significantly to 108 crore liters by 2024-25. Setting a firm timeline, he announced that by the year 2030, diesel consumption across the network will be brought down entirely to zero, resulting in massive savings of foreign exchange for the country.
Exponential Growth in Track Electrification
Contrasting past performance with the current pace of development, the Home Minister pointed out that during the UPA government in 2010-11, only 75 kilometers of railway tracks were electrified in a single year. In stark contrast, the administration completed the electrification of 7,188 kilometers of railway tracks within a single year during 2023-24. At present, 99.6 percent of the entire Indian railway network has been successfully electrified, with the remaining fraction of work slated for completion shortly.
Global Scale and Comparison
Addressing the international scale of this achievement, Shah mentioned that while Sweden is the only other nation to attain 100 percent rail electrification, the sheer magnitude and expanse of India's railway network is more than ten times larger, making the Indian accomplishment uniquely significant on a global scale.
Governance, Transparency, and Political Critique
Following the detailed presentation of infrastructural milestones, the Home Minister launched a sharp political critique against the opposition, urging citizens to question past leaders regarding development metrics. He contrasted the allegations of multi-crore scams from earlier regimes with the clean and transparent governance record maintained over the past 12 years under the current leadership, asserting that the administration has combined rapid technological progress with absolute administrative probity.
