Economic Viability and Environmental Concerns

While the switch to electric locomotives offers the promise of reduced greenhouse gas emissions, economic considerations complicate the narrative significantly. Committees have determined that approximately 62% of railway routes do not meet the traffic thresholds needed to justify electrification investments, which may threaten revenue streams, especially given the railways' reliance on transporting coal for power generation. Additionally, while electric trains produce fewer emissions during operation, India's electricity still largely comes from fossil fuels, particularly coal, leading to concentrated pollution from thermal power plants. Consequently, without a broader shift towards renewable energy in the power grid and addressing economic sustainability, the vision of achieving a fully green railway system remains challenging.