Light House

Southern Railway observes Energy Conservation Week

Southern Railway marches ahead in tapping alternative sources of energy

Total installed capacity of Solar Plants is 5.07 MWp - 18.30 Million Units of Solar energy generated so far – Savings to the tune of Rs.8.03 Crores achieved

Wind Mill generation installed capacity is 10.5 MW – 100 Million Units of Wind energy generated so far – Savings to the tune of Rs.55.71 Crores attained

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Southern Railway Chennai Division installs Solar/Wind Hybrid Systems

100% LED light fittings in all railway premises

Southern Railway is making huge strides in energy conservation with progressive efforts to harness renewable energy sources.  Energy Conservation Week was observed by the railway between 8th and 14th December 2022 as a means of promoting energy conservation among employees, rail users, and the general public.  In this connection, a host of events were held all over Southern Railway divisions, Headquarters office and workshops which culminated o­n Energy Conservation Day (14^th December 2022).  As part of the week, essay writing and quiz competitions, Seminars, Display of posters and banners, and awareness drives by distributing pamphlets to employees and rail users were held all over the zone.

Southern Railway’s energy conservation efforts

Realising that rail transport plays a crucial role in achieving net zero carbon emissions, Southern Railway focuses o­n proliferation of  Solar, Wind and other alternative energy sources across its vast expanse.  The following are some of the noteworthy achievements of the zone in this direction:

Harnessing Solar Power

Total installed capacity of solar plants so far in Southern Railway is 5.07 MWp. The annual solar energy generation during 2021-22 is 5.47 million units which amounts to a notional savings of Rs.2.386 Crores. The total energy generated so far by these solar plants is 18.30 million units which amounts to a notional savings of Rs 8.03 Crores.

Tapping Wind Energy

Presently, Wind mill generation installed capacity is 10.5 MW in Southern Railway. The annual energy generation during 2021-22 is 25.68 million units which amounts to a notional savings of Rs.14.54 Crores. The total energy generated from the installations is 100 million units which amounts to a notional savings of Rs.55.71 Crores.

Chennai Division’s novel initiative

In a first, Chennai Division installed three units of 1.5 KWp Hybrid (Solar/Wind) systems at Chennai Suburban Terminal (MMC), New General Office Annexe Building & Light House station in September 2022.

Other noteworthy initiatives o­n energy conservation

The following energy conservation efforts were made by Southern Railway:

·100% conversion of conventional lights to LED in all its premises

·Proliferation of BLDC fans for ceiling and air circulators.

·Timers for lights at stations, street lights, yard lights, manual control of lights as per need, energy savers for air circulators and welding plants

·VVVF drives for Lifts, escalators, battery chargers, cranes, generation testing in coaches.

·Star rated and inverter based air conditioners

·Occupancy sensors for lights, Air conditioners in officers chambers and meeting halls

Southern Railway is making a headway in its energy conservation efforts in line with Indian Railways’ mission to become the largest Green Railways in the world.

Shri Vinay Kumar Tripathi, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Railway Board, held a review meeting at Southern Railway Headquarters today 29^th October 2022 with               Shri B.G.Mallya, General Manager, Southern Railway, Principal Heads of All Departments and the Divisional Railway Managers of Chennai, Salem, Tiruchchirappalli, Madurai, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram.

During the review meeting, a presentation was made o­n the performance highlights of Southern Railway. The Chairman and CEO reviewed the progress of various infra and developmental works in Southern Railway including Gauge Conversion, Doubling, Electrification, Station Redevelopment of 9 stations of Southern Railway, Gati Shakti Initiatives, Road Safety Works, Speeding of Sections, Bharat Gaurav Trains, Progress of Implementation of Hand Held Terminals and o­ne Station o­ne Product Scheme in Railway Stations.

Earlier, in the morning, Shri Vinay Kumar Tripathi, Chairman & CEO of Railway Board accompanied by Shri B.G.Mallya, General Manager, Southern Railway, Principal Heads of Depts, and Divisional Railway Manager, Chennai, inpected the Korukkupet goods shed and took stock of the facilities available at the goods shed.

Later, the Chairman, Railway Board inspected the hotline cleaning of insulators, a procedure where insulators o­n electrical lines are cleaned with water while the lines are energized. At Dr MGR Chennai Central, Shri Tripathi inspected the Prakriti Twin Coach Tower Car which is used in OHE (Over Head Equipment) inspection, maintenance and hotline monitoring. Later, he visited the newly opened o­ne Station o­ne Product Kanchipuram Silk Saree Stall at Chennai Suburban Terminus (MMC) and interacted with rail users. After the inspection, the Chairman Railway Board met the representatives of recognized trade unions/associations.

During his visit, Shri Vinay Kumar Tripathi, Chairman and CEO, Railway Board, through Video Conferencing unveiled the eplaques of four successfully completed projects over Chennai Division, viz., New Electronic Interlocking Systems at Walajah Road, Thalangai, Arambakkam, Tada and Pedaperiya Railway Stations,  MSDAC System (Multi Section Digital Axle Counter) and Centralisation of Auto – Signaling System in nine Auto Sections of Chennai Egmore – Kodambakkam, Ambattur – Avadi, Sholingur – Thalangai, Kavanur - Gudiyatham, Latheri – Kavanur, Melpakkam – Chitteri, Arakkonam – Tiruvalangadu, Tiruvallur – Kadambattur and Valathoor – Melpatti Sections. MSDAC System at Dr MGR Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore Railway Stations, and Flower Turbine windmill at Moore Market Complex, NGO Building and Light House Station.  

Brief about the Projects Unveiled 

The Signal System upgradation at Chennai Railway Division of Southern Railway, with a route length of 697 kilometres  is towards upgrading the main routes like Chennai – Gudur, Chennai – Jollarpet and Egmore – Tambaram for better speeds. The MSDAC system uses Electromagnetic Sensors, that-is, Detection Points which are installed o­n Tracks. Detection Points are responsible for counting of wheel axles, speed, and direction of train. These Detection Points are connected to Evaluators at Central Location using Telecom cables. The wheel counts as well as health of the field units are continuously transmitted to Central Evaluator by means of telegram packets. The Central Evaluator receives the packets from all the Detection Points and evaluates vacancy status of different track sections and generates vital output. These sections and systems are kept future-ready for integration and implementation of KAVACH without any requirement for additional outdoor cable laying.

As a step towards achieving and generating electricity for its needs, Chennai Division of Southern Railway has installed 3 Nos of 1.5 Kilo watt Peak Hybrid – Solar , Wind, o­n grid systems at the Moore Market Complex, NGO Building and Light House Station; at a cost of        Rs. 8.58 Lakhs providing an Annual Power Generation of 5475 units and an estimated annual savings of Rs. 43,800.