The state of Tamil Nadu has undergone fast-tracked changes over the last year and the state is depending on its vast solar energy source to meet power consumption.
And now, Corporation of Chennai is looking to build solar bus shelters on major arterial roads and these shelters will be equipped with mobile charging points, according to a TOI report.
A senior corporation official has said, “Some bus shelters in the city have at least 20 tubelights. These consume a lot of power. To cut back on power consumption, we are considering solar-powered bus shelters on arterial roads.” Officials said they are yet to finalise locations for the proposed solar bus shelters. “The plan is only in its initial stage. We are also studying solar bus shelters which were introduced in Trichy.”
The concept for solar bus shelters is yet to find takers in the country. Earlier this year, P Kumar, AIADMK MP, Trichy had sanctioned Rs 9.97 million for 18 modern bus shelters and solar power lights from his Member of Parliament Local Area Development Fund. Each bus shelter was constructed at Rs 0.45 million. The fibre glasses on the roof of the bus shelters will produce about 200 watts power.
These bus shelters are being set up under the civic body’s public private partnership plan, which allows advertising firms to build shelters and sell advertising space for 20 years. The selected firms, from the revenue earned through advertising, were supposed to pay the corporation an annual 0.15 million.
