Rail vs Road: The Low-Carbon Shortcut India Can’t Ignore

By: Rutuja Ghume

Date:

May 22, 2025

India’s transport sector already contributes 14 per cent of the nation’s greenhouse-gas output, and road traffic is the chief culprit. A nationwide “modal shift” that nudges freight and passengers from highways to railways could slash those emissions while easing congestion and fuel bills.

Trains are the clear efficiency winner, emitting barely 19 g of CO₂ per passenger-kilometre compared with 63 g for buses and well over 100 g for cars and planes. Yet rail’s global freight share fell from 51 per cent to 40 per cent between 2007 and 2021 as trucking surged. Reversing that trend could prevent up to 1.8 billion tonnes of CO₂ by 2050—an environmental dividend that also trims India’s import bill for oil.

Delhi Metro shows what’s possible, already removing about half-a-million cars from the capital’s roads each day. Nationally, the Railways’ 2030 plan aims to lift its freight share to 45 per cent through dedicated corridors, while expanded metro networks target similar gains for passengers. Verified emission cuts could even earn tradable carbon credits, provided the Railways pair new lines with renewable power. With smart policy and investment, getting India “back on track” could pay both climate and economic dividends.

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