Greenwashing Indian Railways

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The repurposing of diesel locomotives for electric traction raises concerns about wasteful spending, pollution shifting, and environmental greenwashing.

The Indian Railways is converting old diesel locomotives into electric locomotives for export, claiming environmental and economic benefits. However, this move reflects greenwashing rather than genuine sustainability.

Data obtained through RTI shows that over 60% of Indian Railways’ diesel locomotives have outlived their lifespan, with hundreds stored idle due to electrification. The electrification process, while presented as an eco-friendly solution, merely shifts emissions to thermal power plants that generate electricity from fossil fuels. India’s dependence on non-renewable sources, which account for nearly 80% of its energy, means the environmental gains from electrification are limited.

Further, large-scale disposal of diesel locomotives prematurely contributes to wastage of public resources. Instead of efficient utilization, these locomotives are discarded or sold abroad, burdening the economy with asset losses.

Moreover, the government’s Mission 100% Electrification, intended to reduce carbon emissions, ignores India’s energy reality. Railways consume just 3.24% of total diesel usage, while trucks and agriculture consume far more. Misleading claims about emissions savings obscure the high costs and inefficiencies of the program.

The Railways' "strategic disposal" plan for nearly 3,500 diesel locomotives underlines a lack of long-term planning. The massive financial and environmental costs of this premature scrappage threaten resource sustainability and reveal an urgent need for more responsible infrastructure policies.