Page 41 - CII Artha Magazine

Sector in Focus

The 9000HP

E-loco: Engine Accelerating

for future

growth the Future of

In the Railways strategy to
upgrade its rolling stock, one of
the key initiatives is to migrate
from the present 6000 HP Rail Transport
locomotives to new generation
of eco-friendly, highly efficient
9000 HP freight locomotives. The
factory will manufacture 1200
high horsepower electric in India
locomotives over a period of 11
years and the first of the new
locomotives will be on the tracks
in two years.
hydrogen-powered trains, and initiatives are poised to create
completing the new job opportunities in the
Decarbonisation ince its inception, Indian India is a country that has Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet areas of technology,
train project.
engineering, and management
& exports hub Partners in development of freight and of Indian Railways is closely S Railways (IR) has been an defied the odds time and time in the coming years.
country’s economy, the Indian Creating jobs
again. As a lifeline for the
indispensable part of the
passenger terminals,
linked with development of
progress with development and operations the nation, the Central country's infrastructure and Connecting
Indian Railways has set an of track infrastructure, etc. Government is making economy, the backbone of Railways has relied on
ambitious target to cut carbon record investments to India’s transportation and cutting-edge technology and for tomorrow
emissions by more than 450-mn the Indian modernise and upgrade the logistics industry, and an ideal efficiency to keep the wheels every corner
tonnes through optimum usage The aim is to contribute 1.5 Railways. The upgraded and partner in its growth and of industry moving. Union IR is one of the largest
vis-à-vis road transport. The 9000 economy per cent to the country’s sustainable Railway system prosperity. With a vast budget 2023-24 allocated Rs employers in the country, of the country,
of Dedicated Freight Corridors
GDP by building
network of routes spanning
will not only be a key
2.40 lakh crore for the
HP locomotives, which are infrastructure to ably contributor to the over 67900 km across the railways to strengthen providing jobs to over 1.4 reliably and
million people. Moreover, it
widely regarded as an engine for • Infrastructure augmentation support 45 per cent of the Government’s climate goals country, IR is the largest rail first-and last-mile connectivity, indirectly employs several
future growth, will be integral to modal freight share of the and the country’s net-zero network in Asia, and the upgrade existing trains and million people in the
the efficient operation of the The fourth largest Railways economy. The immediate transition, but also play a fourth largest in the world. IR infrastructure, increasing manufacturing, construction, non-stop
DFCs and are at the core of the system in the world – and target under Vision 2024 is vital role in enabling the is an institution that has been Vande Bharat trains, tourism and service sectors,
railway’s climate goals. In addition, the fourth largest rail freight to achieve 2024 MT freight National Logistics Policy instrumental in shaping the introducing high-tech making it a major contributor With a rail network of over
with initiatives like 100 per cent carrier – has been identified loading by 2024. Towards 2030. While stepping up the country's socio-economic initiatives like to the economy. The 67,900 km, IR connects every
electrification, deployment of as the engine of sustainable this, the Railways will average speed remarkably development. government's ambitious plans corner of the country for the
sustainable technologies and growth by the Government electrify the entire network from the current 22 kmph to increase investment in the efficient movement and free
adoption of sustainable practices, of India. The highest ever by the end of this year, to 50 kmph to cut transit The IR is a result of decades railway sector with the flow of goods and raw
Railways will be key contributors planned capex of US$32 which alone will lead to time, the national of ambition and modernisation of existing materials. It provides an
to the country’s net-zero billion has been earmarked annual energy savings of transporter also aims to innovation-growing stronger infrastructure, construction of economical and reliable mode
transition. for 2022-23 alone to US$1.55 billion as well as reduce the overall cost of as the nation sets its sights on new high-speed corridors, and of transport for the freight
develop the Railways’ notably cut carbon rail transportation by nearly becoming a global economic the introduction of new industry - it is estimated that
Driving this climate goal journey, infrastructure and overhaul emissions. 30 per cent. The eventual superpower. technologies such as the around 27 per cent of India's
will be the new generation of the operations to make it aim is to reduce the logistics semi-high-speed Vande Bharat freight is transported via
state-of-art, highly efficient and future-ready for decades to • Rail Ki Gati, Desh Ki Pragati: cost from the current 14 Large ambitions such as this Express and 9000 HP and railways, and work is ongoing
eco-friendly 9000HP locomotives come. Besides budgetary Key enabler of National per cent of the GDP to less may often seem like 12000 HP locomotives are to increase this to 45 per
that will combine environmental allocations, the Government Logistics Policy 2030 than 10 per cent while starry-eyed dreams, but primed to pump these cent by 2030. By connecting
protection with extreme is also sustainably partnering aligning the climate goals numbers even more. These natural resources, production
cost-effectiveness using green with the private sector in Keeping with the with the policy. hubs and various markets, the
technologies to set new areas like operations and Government’s stated railways have become a vital
standards in freight transport. ownership of rolling stock, position that development Ms. Sujatha Narayan, Senior Vice President and
Regional Leader - India Region, Wabtec Corporation linking pin in the supply chain.

40 ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY ANALYSIS, RESEARCH, THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY 41
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
MAY 2023 MAY 2023