Title - Railway to use natural gas as fuel: Kharge

Railways will use natural gas as fuel, Railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge has said.

Railways have taken up various projects for the development of required technology to be used in locomotives, he said.

“In a move to adopt environment friendly and cost effective alternate fuel, the Indian Railways has taken up various projects on utilization of natural gas as fuel for its fleet of diesel locomotives,” he said while addressing International Rail Conference organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). He added that the Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO) is also actively working on developing highly fuel efficient diesel locomotives. “Indian Railways has taken a global lead in starting development of the Common Rail Electronic Direct Fuel Injection system for its fleet of diesel locomotives,” he added.

Kharge invited industrialists for big investments and welcomed FDI. He elaborated how Railways is working towards modernising its core sectors. He referred to Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and High Speed Corridors and new generation locomotives.

“Freight terminals, parts of the DFC, re-development of stations and elevated Rail Corridor in Mumbai are areas proposed for private investment during the 12th Plan period,” he said.