The Green Transition of Indian Railways: A Path to Net-Zero
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Economy (Infrastructure - Railways, Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs)); Environment & Ecology (Climate Finance, Green Bonds, Net-Zero targets); Science & Technology (Hydrogen fuel cell technology).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 3 (Economy, Infrastructure, Environment): Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.; Investment models; Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, climate change. The greening of a massive public sector undertaking like the Indian Railways is a perfect case study for sustainable development.
Key Highlights from the News
Indian Railways aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, 40 years ahead of the country's net-zero target (2070).
As part of this, India's first hydrogen-powered train was successfully tested. 🚂
Key Initiatives to Achieve This Goal:
Over 98% of the broad gauge network has been electrified.
756 MW of electricity is generated from solar and wind energy. More than 2,000 stations run on solar power.
Hydrogen trains are being deployed as part of the "Hydrogen for Heritage" project.
Aims to increase the modal share of freight from road to rail to 45%.
Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) are being constructed for freight movement only.
Funding for this Green Transition is Sourced From:
Sovereign Green Bonds issued by the government.
Green bonds from Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC).
Loans from multilateral agencies like the World Bank.
Way Forward:
Directly purchase electricity required for electrification from renewable energy sources instead of coal.
Transform railway stations into "multi-modal green hubs" integrating electric buses and bicycles.
Create awareness among passengers and industries about sustainable transportation.
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