Railways cutting carbon footprint

The Indian Railways is doing its bit for the environment. Betting big on clean technology, the Railways has come out with a project design document for registration under the clean development mechanism (CDM) monitored by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The document has been developed in association with the World Bank. The project is expected to result in annual reduction of approximately 1 lakh tonnes of carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions. Through a number of initiatives, the Railways is looking at a good stream of revenue through carbon credits.

Going forward, the Railways plans to initiate the use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in employee quarters and has distributed 26 million CFLs at the rate of 4 per family. It believes this move will help reduce 0.14 million tonnes (1.4 lakh tonnes) of CO2 emissions annually. The project is financed with the carbon credits earned under CDM framework. The Railways plans to save up to 15% of energy through improved energy efficiency in both, traction (which accounts for 87% of energy consumption) as well as non-traction use. It also plans to source at least 10% of energy from renewable sources such as solar power and biomass.

The Railways will also procure only three-star rated products for achieving energy efficiency. Among the other initiatives are introduction of new suburban trains in Mumbai with regenerative braking to consume up to 40% less energy. The Railways is also inducting light-weight stainless steel coaches with enhanced passenger capacity and new designs of freight stock.

The Railways will also undertake a massive plantation drive along the railway tracks and within the railway colonies, and use grass turfing as an anti-erosion measure on the slopes of the banks along the tracks.