Presenting the Railway Budget for 2013-14 in Parliament today, India's Railway Minister - Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal came up with a slew of New initiatives, which would see a rapid uptick in both Solar and Wind Power Generation being utilized by the Railways. Currently Railways is one of the Largest Consumer of Electricity in India, with it's Bills reaching Rs. 9000 crore ($ 1.6 Billion).
Power Tribe Magazine (link), SDurg Media's New Power Website, looked into the Railway Budget Presentation by Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal and identified the green initiatives being devised in the new Budget.
Following are the Key Green Initiatives of Railways:
- Railway Energy Management Company (REMC) to harness potential of solar and wind energy.
- For this initiative Railways will partner with RITES (link). RITES will have 51 per cent equity, while the Railways will have 49%.
- The company would help Railways save 12 per cent in energy consumption.
- Setting up of 75 MW capacity Wind Power plants and energizing 1000 level crossings with solar power.
- Deployment of new generation energy efficient electric locomotives and Electrical multiple units - EMUs.
- More usage of agro-based and recycled paper and ban use of plastic in catering.
- Also the Minsiter Proposes to set up a Chair at TERI to promote railway related research to reduce country’s carbon footprint.
