Indian Railways consumes around 2,957 million units of electricity every month (Image generated using AI)Indian Railways electrification: Indian Railways uses nearly 3 billion units ( 2,957 million units) of electricity every month across its 17 zones to power train operations and ensure the smooth running of services nationwide. At present, 99.6% of its Broad Gauge (BG) network has been electrified.In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that while many countries focus on electrifying only their busiest passenger and freight routes, India has chosen to electrify its entire Broad Gauge network. He said Indian Railways’ progress in railway electrification is among the most significant achievements globally.Also Read | Cabinet approves two new railway lines connecting Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh“By network coverage, Indian Railways is now among the most extensively electrified large railway systems in the world. Indian Railways had electrified 99.6% of its broad-gauge network, completing one of the world’s largest infrastructure transformation programs in a decade,” he said.According to the latest report of International Union of Railways (UIC) of June, 2025, railway electrification in important railway systems is as under:The Union Minister further said that Indian Railways has taken up electrification in mission mode. Work is underway to electrify the remaining sections of the network, and all new railway lines and multi-tracking projects are being approved and built with electrification, he said.A look at the zone-wise status of railway electrificationOf the 19 railway zones, 15 have achieved 100 per cent electrification, while work is still underway in the remaining four zones. These are: North Western Railway, Northeast Frontier Railway, Southern Railway and South Western Railway.Zone-wise electricity consumption and expenditure of Indian Railways in FY 2025-26South Central Railway recorded the highest average monthly electricity consumption in FY 2025-26 at 317.49 million units. It was followed by Central Railway (273.93 million units), North Central Railway (261.61 million units), East Coast Railway (218.38 million units) and Western Railway (218.17 million units).Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More