Complete electrification is a rather bad idea. Only routes with sufficient traffic density and major passenger trunk routes have to be electrified. With our current electricity generation capacity and the dependence on thermal power for traction power ( solar and wind power are not suitable for wide scale traction power as of now), diesel traction cannot be abandoned and is still very crucial.
Many routes do not have much traffic density and electrification of these routes ends up in creating more pollution than diesel traction. Alternative fuels like biodiesel can be explored as replacements for petro-diesel to reduce dependency on crude oil.

---

Presently about 35% route kms (& even higher % of track Kms) of IRly network is electrified. Once the electrification level reach about 60-70% of total tracks (based on the traffic), the left over non-electrified stretches shall be of short distances. These small non-electrified stretches shall become operational bottleneck due to frequent loco changes required and subsequent delays and reduction of line capacity. At that point of time electrification of these leftover stretches shall become a necessity. Ultimately IR shall have to go for almost 100% electrification for BG tracks.
Any how it would be unwise to scrap diesel locos altogether. Some has to be maintained to take care of emergencies due to breakdown in OHE lines.

---

Severe shortage of electric locos means that even if lines are fully electrified , railway will continue to use diesel loco on many trains

---

Yes complete electrification is rubbish idea.. There is no need to electrify routes which have less than 20 trains a day.

---

Agreed....
It is important to electrified important section with supporting line which connect two electrified section enroute. Priority would be decided before executing the project. For example
Utretia to Bhadohi : Work Start from Utretia to Rai Bareilly (RBL) including Unchahar. It will help to connect ALD-LJN (via UCR, RBL).

---