Bhopal railway division leads the way in energy saving

04 Oct 2022 CW Team

All lights at Rani Kamalapati railway station in Bhopal switch on whenever a train reaches its platform. But once the train leaves, 70 per cent of the lights automatically turn off.

This "30-70 per cent circuit automation" system is among the energy conservation initiatives taken by the Bhopal division of West Central Railway (WCR) to save power and cut cost. Besides, a solar energy plant at WCR's Bina station in the state is the first of its kind in the Railways to provide electricity directly to the overhead equipment (OHE), he claimed.

The Bina station's solar plant was awarded the Best Use of Zero Carbon Technology in Planet Category at the International Sustainable Railway Awards held in Berlin, Germany, in June this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in November last year dedicated to the nation the revamped Rani Kamalapati Railway Station (RKMP), earlier known as Habibganj, in in the Madhya Pradesh capital.

This station, named after the queen of Bhopal's Gond kingdom, has the first central concourse with connectivity to all platforms and other modern facilities.

"Besides RKMP, 12 other stations of the division are also equipped with the 30-70 per cent circuit automation system, under which only 30 per cent of the lights will remain on when no train stops on a platform. Once a train crosses the home signal, the remaining 70 per cent of the lights will switch on," Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Sourabh Bandopadhyaya said.

When the train crosses the 'starter signal', 70 per cent of the lights on that particular platform automatically switch off, which will result in a saving of Rs 13 lakh per annum on power bills, he said.