Indian Railways Aims for 100% Electrification by 2025-26
At the Global Investors Summit 2025 in Bhopal, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted Indian Railways’ commitment to 100% electrification and the adoption of alternative energy sources.
He reaffirmed the government’s goal to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions, with full electrification targeted for completion in the 2025-26 financial year. The next step will focus on maximizing renewable energy procurement to further enhance sustainability.
With this vision, Indian Railways has already tied up 1,500 MW of renewable energy. Further strengthening this commitment, a significant 170 MW Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed today with the Madhya Pradesh government. This milestone marks the procurement of India's cheapest solar power at Rs 2.15/kWh and the Minister reaffirmed enthusiasm for exploring wind and nuclear energy procurement. The Government of Madhya Pradesh, through Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Limited (RUMSL), is supplying solar power to Indian Railways from its largest solar park.
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw commended Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Mohan Yadav for his active role in advancing railway development in the state. He reiterated the Indian government’s strong commitment to a sustainable and green future for the country's transportation network.
The Minister also added that Indian Railways is committed to achieving net-zero emissions and shifting from road to rail transport to promote environmental sustainability, reduce oil imports, and lower overall logistics costs. As part of this vision, it is meeting its energy requirements through non-fossil sources such as solar, wind, and nuclear power. The collaboration with RUMSL is a significant step in this direction.
In addition to setting up its own solar systems, Indian Railways is also securing solar power through PPA arrangements with developers. By 2030, Indian Railways' traction power requirement is projected to reach 10,000 MW. So far, it has secured 4,260 MW of installed solar capacity and 3,427 MW of installed wind capacity to meet its energy needs, the Minister said.
