The growing power requirements of Indian Railways (IR) are likely to be met with clean and reliable nuclear power, for which the Power Ministry has been approached, said Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.The Railway Ministry is in touch with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Ministry of Power (MoP) for allocation of nuclear power to meet part of its traction power requirement, he said in a recent reply in Rajya Sabha. He said Indian Railways has been exploring sourcing power from existing and upcoming nuclear power plants.
He said nuclear power being a clean and reliable source will help the railways, reducing the dependence on fossil fuels, and thereby lessening carbon emissions.
On fare concession offered to passengers, the Minister said that Indian Railways gave a subsidy of Rs 56,993 crore on passenger tickets in 2022-23.
The Minister said that this amounts to a concession of 46 per cent on average, to every person, travelling on railways.