Visakhapatnam becomes division’s first rail station to achieve maximum energy efficiency

Visakhapatnam railway station has become the first in the division to achieve 100 percent energy efficiency. The railway station has earned the unique distinction of being the first Energy Efficient ‘A1 Category’ Railway Station over the division.

The officials took several measures, including that of replacing conventional lights with LED lighting, to achieve the energy efficiency in the station. Divisional Railway Manager Mukul Saran Mathur said the measures would result in saving about Rs 3.17 lakh per annum with reduction of the connected load for railways.

The measures included installing rooftop solar photovoltaic systems on Electric Loco Shed, Diesel Loco Shed, Divisional Railway Hospital and on Divisional Railway Manager’s office. The Solar Grid-Power commissioned under PPP model, including operation and maintenance of the systems for a period of 25 years. The project cost is about Rs 8 crore.

Also, about 3360 solar panels have been provided for the generation of one-megawatt power by utilising an area of 16,250 square metres vacant space on rooftops of the four service buildings.

The story was first published by The Hans India.