Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded Indian Railways’ efforts toward environmental sustainability, noting that the national transporter is playing a pivotal role in building a greener future for India. Sharing an article authored by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on the occasion of World Environment Day, the Prime Minister highlighted the strides made in electrification and clean energy adoption, saying that Indian Railways is on track to achieve net zero emissions.
“With rapid electrification and a shift to clean energy, it is on track to achieve net zero emissions,” the Prime Minister’s Office posted on X.
In his article, titled “On the Green Track”, Ashwini Vaishnaw elaborated on the transformative steps Indian Railways has taken in recent years to align with the country’s climate goals. He emphasised that more than 700 crore people travelled by train last year, underlining the environmental impact of such a large-scale public shift toward greener mobility.
“Every time you choose to travel by train, you are not just choosing comfort or convenience—you are choosing a cleaner, greener Bharat,” the Railway Minister wrote.
Indian Railways, he noted, is actively contributing to the “Panchamrit” climate commitments announced by Prime Minister Modi, particularly the pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. By shifting freight movement from road to rail and accelerating electrification, the network is reducing the country’s carbon footprint in a substantial way.
According to Vaishnaw, the shift of cargo from road to rail has helped India avoid over 143 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions—equivalent to planting 121 crore trees. “This transition has also saved us 2,857 crore litres of diesel, roughly translating to savings of ₹2 lakh crore in fuel costs,” he stated.
The article also underscores a major policy push toward electrification. While just 21,000 km of railway tracks had been electrified in the six decades before 2014, the past 11 years have seen a record 47,000 km of electrification. As a result, 99% of India’s broad-gauge network is now electrified.
The article concludes with a reaffirmation of Indian Railways’ goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions (Scope 1) by 2030, with projections suggesting the target may be met as early as 2025.
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