Indian Railways go green to conserve energy

Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge today informed Lok Sabha through the Interim Railway Budget 2014-2015 that the public carrier behemoth had won 22 out of 112 awards being given away by the government in 2013 in the area of energy conservation. “With a view to improving aesthetic ambience along the track close to the approach of major stations, creation of ‘Green Curtains’ at Agra and Jaipur stations is being undertaken on pilot basis. This will involve construction of RCC boundary wall of appropriate height along the railway boundary up to a suitable distance, landscaping from the track to the wall and within station circulating area, and arrangements for appropriate watch and ward to check open defecation and littering,” a release from the Minitry of Railways said. “Once the pilot projects succeed, Railways intend to invite corporate entities to participate in this programme at other stations through their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, besides obtaining support of municipalities and local bodies,” it said.[caption id=“attachment_1385941” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge. PTI[/caption] Kharge said in his budget speech that the Railway Energy Management Company has become functional and is working on setting up of windmill plants, solar power plants, with about 40 percent subsidy from Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The railways intend to bring 200 railway stations, roof top of 26 buildings and 2,000 level crossing gates to start off under this project. Moreover, a bio-toilet design has been adopted by the railways and the technology has been introduced in about 2,500 coaches. It is proposed to increase the coverage progressively.