The electrification of Indian Railways may prove to be one of the most far-sighted strategic decisions taken by the Indian state after Independence.
At that time, it appeared to be an expensive infrastructure programme undertaken by a capital-scarce nation with more immediate priorities. India faced food shortages, foreign exchange constraints, and pressing development challenges. Diesel traction offered a cheaper and seemingly more practical path. Electrification required vast investments in transmission infrastructure, substations, overhead equipment, and grid capacity across one of the world’s largest railway networks.
