Rail India Conference lays out green roadmap for railway transformation

The 8th Rail India Conference & Expo concluded in New Delhi with a forward-looking agenda focused on green energy, efficiency, and modernisation of India’s railway network. The two-day event convened top voices from the government, railways, academia and private sector to deliberate on sustainability, infrastructure and innovation. 

Abhay Bakre, Mission Director, National Green Hydrogen Mission, highlighted the potential of green hydrogen in decarbonising railways. While the sector currently contributes 25–30 million tonnes to India's carbon emissions, projections for 2030 peg this at 45 million tonnes. Railways, he said, could enable a green supply chain for hydrogen and ammonia, aided by policy and infrastructure upgrades. 

Madhya Pradesh’s Additional Chief Secretary, Manu Srivastava, showcased the state’s low-cost solar power model, with electricity provided at Rs 2.15 per unit. He cited the Rewa solar project and its supply to Delhi Metro and the ongoing 1,500 MW solar development, one-fourth of which supports railways across nine states. 

Indian Railways is also exploring nuclear energy, said Dr Jaideep Gupta of the Ministry of Railways. Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated in Budget 2025 for compact nuclear power plants. Solar and wind will continue to play a key role in the energy mix. 

NITI Aayog’s Rajeev Singh Thakur highlighted Gati Shakti’s role in unifying eight ministries, speeding up approvals, and reducing project delays and costs. 

RDSO’s Executive Director Rupesh Kohli outlined key milestones: over 96 per cent of broad-gauge lines are electrified, 3,000 km of dedicated freight corridors are nearing completion, and trials for hydrogen-powered trains are on the horizon. Other advances include 1,300 upgraded stations, dual-use cargo liners, and deployment of Kavach across 44,000 km. 

Speakers from Nevomo, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Northern Railways, and Alstom India discussed retrofitted maglev propulsion, AI-driven logistics, and waste management. The conference underlined Indian Railways’ role in economic growth and reaffirmed stakeholder commitment to a sustainable, tech-enabled future.