▁to ▁co pe ▁with ▁increased ▁traffic . ▁After ▁the ▁completion ▁of ▁the ▁second ▁Five - Year ▁Plan , ▁Indian ▁Rail ways ▁had ▁elect r ified ▁ 2 1 6 ▁route - kil omet res ▁( r km ) ▁with ▁ 2 5 ▁k V ▁AC . ▁During ▁the ▁Third ▁Plan ▁( al ong ▁with ▁ind igen isation , ▁elect r ification ▁was ▁extended ▁another ▁ 1 , 6 7 8 ▁r km . ▁The ▁pace ▁of ▁elect r ification ▁then ▁slow ed ▁until ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 0 s ▁energy ▁crisis . ▁The ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁energy ▁crisis , ▁in ▁particular , ▁emphas ised ▁the ▁need ▁for ▁a ▁long - term ▁elect r ification ▁policy ▁to ▁reduce ▁rail ▁dependence ▁on ▁pet role um - based ▁energy . ▁In ▁a ▁general ▁shift ▁from ▁pet role um - based ▁energy ▁in ▁the ▁transport ▁sector , ▁the ▁Secret aries ' ▁Committee ▁on ▁Energy ▁( head ed ▁by ▁the ▁Cab inet ▁Secretary ) ▁decided ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁to ▁elect r ify ▁the ▁rail ways ▁at ▁an ▁annual ▁pace ▁of ▁ 1 , 0 0 0 ▁r km . ▁Indian ▁Rail ways ▁elect r ified ▁ 2 , 8 1 2 ▁r km ▁during ▁the ▁Se vent h ▁Plan , ▁ 2 , 7 0 8 ▁r km ▁during ▁the ▁E ighth ▁Plan ▁and ▁ 2 , 4 8 4 ▁r km ▁during ▁N inth ▁Plan ▁for ▁a ▁total ▁of ▁ 1 6 , 0 0 1 ▁r km . ▁In