Indian Railways turning green

The Railway Budget is out and we thought it might be a good idea to discuss it from a green point of view.  While we have seen a lot of opinion on the budget and perhaps more on the political ramifications and in what will be a first- the party in power opposing its own budget. So to provide an entirely different view point, let us see how green the railway budget is.

Some of the Green Initiatives of the railway budget are-

• Setting up of 72 MW capacity windmill plants in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
• Setting up of 200 remote railway stations as ‘green energy stations’ powered entirely by solar energy. The railways have immense potential for use of solar energy. Not only the vast property of railway can make use of solar panels for direct electricity generation, it also provides an opportunity for cutting down on running costs.
• Providing solar lighting system at 1000 manned level crossing gates.
• Introduction of mobile emission test cars to measure pollution level of diesel locomotives.
• Commissioning of two bio diesel plants at Raipur and Tondiarpet.
• Introduction of a ‘Green Train’ to run through the pristine forests of North Bengal.
• 2500 coaches to be equipped with bio toilets.

The bio toilets is something that is long overdue and should be implemented as soon as possible in all trains without fail. This is something that has also been brought into focus by the Anil Kadokodkar committee. The aesthetics question aside, the dumping of nightsoil on railway tracks also gives causes corrosion of railway tracks. Not only does it reduce the lifespan of the tracks but the committee also pointed out that this also leads to refusal by railwaymen to carry out maintenance of railway tracks.

Read more on Bio-Toilets to be Installed in 2500 Coaches of Indian Railways