New Delhi: All was definitely not bad during COVID times for Indian Railways. While passenger trains and other services were suspended, Railways embarked upon a major electrification program to electrify its Broad Gauge (BG) network on Mission mode. During the COVID year, i.e. 2020-21, Railways surpassed the target of route electrification by electrifying 6,015 Route kilometers (RKMs) against the target of 6,000 RKM, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Rajya Sabha on Friday.

"Electrification work is in progress under different stages of planning/execution on balance BG routes of Indian Railways, which are being electrified expeditiously," Minister said in a written reply to a question.

Indian Railways has a total Broad Gauge (BG) network of 64,689 RKMs including 740 RKM of Konkan Railway. Out of these 45,881 RKM i.e., about 71% has already been electrified till 31.03.2021, response added.

To complete the projects in time, various steps have been taken which include among others award of large size Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts, better project monitoring mechanism, assured/committed funds through 'Extra Budgetary Resource' (Institutional Finance), decentralization of powers to field units etc, Vaishnaw added.

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