PM praises Railways for green progress

New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Indian Railways is helping build a greener future for the country. On World Environment Day, he praised the railway’s efforts in electrification and clean energy. He shared a message on X, highlighting Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s article about how trains are helping India go green.

Vaishnaw said that over 700 crore people traveled by train last year. Choosing trains over cars or buses means less pollution and a cleaner environment. Indian Railways is also working to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030. But thanks to fast electrification and cargo moving from roads to rail, Indian Railways may reach net zero by 2025 itself.

In 2013-14, Indian Railways moved 1,055 million tonnes of goods. In 2024-25, it increased to 1,617 million tonnes, making India’s railway the world’s second-largest cargo mover. This shift has cut 143 million tonnes of CO₂—like planting 121 crore trees.

Moving goods by train also saves money. It costs half as much as road transport, saving Rs 3.2 lakh crore in logistics in the last 10 years. Railways also saved 2,857 crore litres of diesel, cutting fuel costs by Rs 2 lakh crore.

Since 2014, Railways has electrified 47,000 km of track. Now, 99% of broad gauge tracks are electrified. Stations and factories also use more green power. The government is working with states to power trains using more renewable energy.

This cleaner, greener rail network is key to India’s climate goals.