Indian Railways is electrifying its entire rail network to provide greener transport and reduce carbon footprint. In South Western Railway, Electrification work is in full swing. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL) and Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE) are executing the Electrification works in jurisdiction of South Western Railway.
In the period from July 2020 to Mar. 2021, 477 Route Kilo Metres (RKM) of Electrification work has been completed in SWR and authorization of Commissioner of Railway Safety has also been received.
It includes 99 RKM between Rayadurga-Thalaku-Chitradurga, 103 RKM between Kariganuru-Harlapur-Hulkoti, 65 RKM between Hubballi and Alnavar, 85 RKM between Anekal-Periyanagathunai-Palakkodu and 125 RKM between Kudgi and Hotgi.
In the current Financial Year from Apr.2021, 122 RKM of Electrification has been completed so far. It includes 33 RKM between Alnavar and Londa, 33 RKM between Chitradurga-Chikjajur and 56 RKM between Chikbanavar and Tumakuru. Further, 570 RKM of Electrification is targeted for completion in current Financial Year ending by Mar.2022.
On 04.11.2021, Electric Loco Trial was conducted successfully between Hulkoti and Hubballi Bypass East (39 RKM).
76 RKM between Palakoddu-Sivadi-Omalur, 45 RKM between Yelahanka-Chikballapur, 20 RKM between Kalgurki-Wandal, 11 RKM between Londa-Tinaighat, 113RKM between Arsikere-Birur-Chikjajur, 61 RKM between Mysuru-Chamarajanagar, 48 RKM between Gadag-Hole Alur, 60 RKM between Tumakuru-Kardi, 47 RKM between Tinaighat-Castlerock and Kulem-Madgaon, and 44 RKM between Bangarpet- Srinivaspur are also targeted for Electrification in the current Financial Year.
Before 2017, only 208 RKM between Bengaluru and Jolarpettai was electrified in SWR. In the year 2016-17 electrification of 259 RKM, in 2017-18 electrification of 95 RKM, in 2018-19 electrification of 41.6 RKM and in 2019-20 electrification of 143.1 RKM have been completed.
Electrification has now been completed between Hubballi-Ballari and Ballari Rayadurga fully. The Electrification between Hubballi and Bengaluru line is expected to be completed by March 2023. As per targets, by December 2023, all the major routes of SWR will be electrified.
Recently, on 4th November, 2021 Shri Sanjeev Kishore, GM/SWR along with Shri P.K. Mishra, Additional General Manager & Shri Manoj Mahajan, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer conducted a meeting through Video Conference with DRMs of all the 3 Divisions, top officials of RVNL & CORE and directed them to give top priority to complete the Railway Electrification works as per targets. He reviewed the progress of works of foundation of masts, erection, wiring etc. as per action plan. He advised them to plan works targeted for current financial year for completion by Jan/Feb.2022.
Electrification of Railway lines besides being environment friendly, will also save foreign exchange reserves spent on High-Speed Diesel Oil.
In addition to above, passenger trains with higher speed & heavier goods trains can be run after Electrification of tracks
