New Delhi: IndiGo was quizzed on Wednesday by a parliamentary committee over the misery inflicted on passengers by its mass-cancellation of flights, but it blamed a variety of factors, including system glitch and adverse weather conditions, while DGCA and the aviation ministry parried off criticism of their role in the fiasco.Some committee members termed replies of different stakeholders as “unconvincing” and aimed at washing their hands of the crisis, encapsulated by the response of a govt official that he first came to know of the unfolding ordeal through media reports.The panel, headed by JDU’s Sanjay Jha, decided to wait for the report of an inquiry ordered by DGCA before coming to a conclusion and make its recommendation. It will hold another meeting and is expected to call these stakeholders again. The DGCA-ordered committee was constituted on Dec 5 and was asked to submit its report in 15 days.Captain Sam Thomas, president of Bengaluru-based Airline Pilots Association of India, created flutter at the meeting by alleging corruption in DGCA and was asked by members to refrain from making sweeping allegations without producing evidence. He alleged that one can commit any wrong, but stay safe if he touched right feet.A committee member said IndiGo, which has offered apology for the ordeal, was far from apologetic in its response before the panel. It told the panel that several factors combined to derail its operation, including a glitch in system, which needed rebooting, and adverse weather that had their pilots stuck in different zones.IndiGo was represented by its COO Isidre Porqueras, while officials of Air India, Akasa Air, Spice Jet and Air India Express appeared before the panel as well. Civil aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and top functionaries of other stakeholders were part of the deliberations.Replying to a query, IndiGo said all luggage, except 52 which remained unclaimed, have already been delivered.The panel’s meeting came against the backdrop of the suspicion, subject of investigation, that IndiGo remained resistant to the implementation of guidelines (Flight Duty Time Limitation) that allowed more rest for pilots in line with global norms aimed at ensuring flyers’ safety.It has been accused of engineering the disruption, leveraging its market dominance, to force the ministry to roll back the regulation as implementing it would have required the airline to hire more pilots. Faced with chaos caused triggered by disruption of IndiGo’s operations, DGCA had to relax the implementation of the guidelines.IndiGo management is reported to have denied allegation in meetings with ministry.

New Delhi: Indian Railways has reached a milestone in its journey toward sustainable transportation, achieving electrification of 99.2 per cent of its broad gauge network. This puts India ahead of major rail economies such as the United Kingdom, which stands at 39%, Russia at 52% and China at 82%, according to a press release from the Ministry of Railways.

The achievement brings the country closer than ever to operating a fully electrified railway system. Fourteen railway zones, including Central, Eastern and Northern Railways, have already achieved 100% electrification. In addition, 25 states and union territories have completed electrification across their rail networks.

Data provided in a written reply to the Lok Sabha highlights the rapid pace of this transformation. Between 2014 and 2025, India electrified 46,900 route kilometres, more than double the 21,801 route kilometres completed in the previous six decades.

In the past two years alone, 7,188 route kilometres were electrified in 2023-24 and 2,701 route kilometres in 2024-25.

The environmental benefits of this transition are major. Rail transport emits 89% less CO2 than road transport, and Indian Railways is complementing electrification with renewable energy initiatives. So far, 898 MW of solar power has been commissioned at 2,626 stations, reinforcing India’s commitment to a greener transportation network.

Electrification is advancing consistently across zones. The Central, East Coast, East Central, Eastern, Konkan Railway, Kolkata Metro, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, Northern Railway, South Central Railway, South East Central Railway, South Eastern Railway, West Central Railway and Western Railway have achieved full electrification.

Other zones, such as North Western, Southern, Northeast Frontier and South Western Railway, have crossed 95% electrification.

The progress is equally impressive state-wise as well. Most states are fully electrified, while Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are nearing completion. In the North Eastern region, the broad gauge networks in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Mizoram have been 100% electrified, while Assam stands at 92%, with work underway to complete the remaining sections.

All new rail lines and multi-tracking projects are now being sanctioned with electrification integrated from the beginning. According to the Ministry of Railways, the completion timeline for electrification projects depends on factors such as forest clearances, relocation of utilities, statutory approvals, geological and topographical conditions, law and order situations and climatic constraints, which can affect progress at different project sites.

Beyond expanding connectivity, electrification is central to India’s sustainability agenda. The move to electric rail corridors is helping dramatically cut carbon emissions. For instance, transporting 1 tonne of freight over 1 km emits 101 g of CO2 by road, compared with just 11.5 g by rail, an almost eightfold reduction.

The Indian Railways aims for 100% electrification while contributing to the nation’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Every new rail project now includes electrification from the outset, ensuring that India’s railway system grows greener, more efficient and globally competitive.