Exploring alternate power supply option for railway s electric traction in a liberalised environment

Abstract

Railways, with only 27% electrified track are carrying nearly 63% of freight traffic and 49% of passenger traffic on electric traction. This cost effective, clean, efficient and environ friendly mode of transport is indirectly being pushed towards a costly proposition by cash strapped State Power Supply Utilities. Over the year taking the monopolistic advantage, SEBs have slowly increased the traction tariff to highest among all category of consumers. Even after liberalisation in electricity sector, not much improvement occurred. In fact during initial process of unbundling of SEBs, traction tariff went up by 50% over period of five years (2000-01 over1995-96). However, after establishment of State Electricity Regulatory Commission, there is a check on rising trend of traction tariff and it is stable around Rs.4.50 for last five years. This has been achieved by the Railways with lot of persuasion with SEBs, representation before SERC and raising the issue with State Government etc and the matter has reached the saturation. As per estimation, from Cost to Supply point of view, it is still higher by 30% to 35% and Railways are losing nearly Rs.1500 Crs on an annual electricity bill of Rs.4500 Crs .After the advent of Electricity Act-2003, Railways are now having many options to avail the power supply best suited to them to cut down electricity bill, thereby making existing electrified network viable for operation and paving the way for further electrification work. The major option before Railways are asunder:-1. Pure Open Access Route2. Generation and Open Access Route3. Availing Central pool power through Dedicated Route4. Open Access and Dedicated Transmission Line Route This dissertation paper aims to explore the above major alternate power supply option for Railways traction purpose in light of changed rules under new Electricity act and Regulation through various policy of government, such as, National Electricity policy, Tariff policy, Open Access policy etc. The objective is to achieve financial gain to Railways and long term sustainability for electric traction