SCR accords top priority to energy conservation and environmental protection

Hyderabad: Indian Railways is according highest priority to the Energy Conservation in tune with the National Policy formulated with the vision and direction provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

As part of the same the National Energy Conservation Week is being observed from 14th to 21st December, 2018 all over the Zone. Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal has been personally monitoring the various methods adopted for Energy Conservation by Zonal Railways. He complemented the South Central Railway on becoming the 1st Zone on Indian Railways to achieve the status of 100% LED lit Zone. Further, Goyal advised all the Zones to take up the initiative for harnessing Solar Energy and Wind Energy to save the conventional fuel resources and strive for reducing the pollution and saving the green environment.

All the 742 Railway Stations on the Zone have been provided 100% LED lighting duly replacing 75, 681 numbers of different wattage conventional light fittings. This provision of LED lighting will save a total of 32 lakh units of electrical energy and an amount of Rs. 2.71 Cr per year along with reduction of carbon emissions by 2880 tonnes per annum. 59, 736 conventional LED fittings were also replaced in the service building sector of the Zone, which resulted in saving of 14.5 lakh units of electrical energy and Rs. 1.23 Cr per year.

In the front of environmental protection reduction of carbon emissions is 1305 tonnes. LED fittings in the residential quarter buildings sector over SCR results to saving of 35.4 lakh energy units and Rs. 3.02 Cr per year along with reduction of carbon emission by 3187 tonnes per year. Totally South Central Railway achieved a saving of 81.9 lakh units of electrical energy, Rs. 6.96 Cr and reduction of carbon emissions by 7372 tonnes which is a great step towards environmental protection.

South Central Railway is also taking initiatives to further the use of Solar Energy manifold by installing land based solar power plants in vacant Railway lands. One such solar farm of 34 MW capacity is on the anvil, from 170 acres of unused spare Railway land in Guntakal Division.

The South Central Railway being at the forefront in Energy Conservation has been winning accolades for its achievements in the area of Energy Efficiency and Green Initiatives. South Central Railway won 6 national Energy Conservation Awards at the National level for its stations and other buildings including 1st prize for Passenger Reservation Complex Building, Secunderabad in State PWD, CPWD & PHED sector. In addition, Secunderabad Railway Station and Divisional Railway Manager Office, Guntur have certified as IGBC Platinum Rated Green Buildings in the current year whereas Kacheguda Railway Station has been certified as a Gold Rated Building.

An exhibition showcasing various energy efficient fittings and technologies had been organized by the Divisions of South Central Railway along with participants from Industry. Presentations on initiatives taken for conservation of electric energy in traction as well as non traction and also measures taken for conservation of diesel were made. Projects already completed as well as on hand were highlighted during the presentations. Energy efficient Loco Pilots of both Electric and Diesel Traction wings were honoured during the Energy Conservation Week celebrations.