In a significant engineering triumph, Indian Railways has successfully completed the electrification of one of its most challenging terrains—the 55-kilometer Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya section traversing the Western Ghats in Karnataka. This milestone, achieved after overcoming extreme geographical hurdles, marks the full electrification of the crucial Bengaluru-Mangaluru route.
A Daunting Engineering Challenge
The project, described by officials as one of the most difficult sections for electrification in the country, presented a unique set of obstacles. The stretch features a steep ruling gradient of 1 in 50, passes through 57 tunnels and 226 bridges, and navigates 108 sharp curves. Compounding the difficulty was the absence of an approach road to the railway track, forcing all material to be supplied solely by rail.
A senior railway official explained that the area's susceptibility to landslides, especially during the monsoon season, added considerable risk. The work, initiated in December 2023, involved constructing five switching stations and implementing full overhead electrification across this precarious landscape.
Precision Work in a Precarious Zone
Executing the project required meticulous planning and specialized support. For safety, a maximum distance of 67.5 kilometers between two traction poles was maintained. Inside the 57 tunnels, engineers installed 427 main brackets and an equal number of spare brackets to support the overhead catenary system that holds the electric wires.
The complexity demanded detailed geological studies, which were carried out with assistance from the National Institute of Rock Mechanics and Bangalore University. The construction phase was repeatedly hampered by heavy rainfall, landslides, rockfalls, and soil erosion, testing the resilience of the engineering teams on the ground.
National Electrification Nears Completion
The successful trial run of an electric locomotive on December 28, 2025, formally marked the project's completion. This achievement propels Indian Railways closer to its goal of a fully electrified broad-gauge network. Currently, over 99% of the network's sections are electrified, covering nearly 68,700 route kilometers out of a total of over 69,000.
With this stretch now operational, all states have achieved 100% electrification barring a few remaining sections in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, and Goa, which are slated for completion in 2026. On the global stage, this progress places India among the leaders in railway electrification, ahead of major networks like China, Japan, and Russia, according to a 2025 report by the International Union of Railways (UIC). Presently, Switzerland remains the only major railway system with a 100% electrified network.
The electrification of the Sakleshpur-Subrahmanya section is more than an infrastructure update; it enhances the efficiency and sustainability of connectivity between Bengaluru and the key port city of Mangaluru, representing a critical step in modernizing India's transportation backbone.
