A rapid transit system coming up near India’s capital, New Delhi, is planning to be the greenest such transport system in the country.
Officials of Noida Metro recently disclosed that the transportation system will be the ‘most environment-friendly’ metro project in the country. The system will include several rooftop solar power projects with a total capacity of 12 MW.
The planned solar power plants will supply electricity to all 21 stations and offices, as well as the train depot. The solar power systems will cover parking lots, foot over-bridges, the train depot, and station roofs.
The Noida Metro authority will also take several other green measures to minimize energy consumption. Fly ash-based bricks, water recycling, and energy efficient lighting are some of the measures announced by the officials.
As per guidelines of the National Green Tribunal, Noida Metro will set up sound barriers, 576 rainwater harvesting pits, and plant around 18,000 trees to compensate for the loss of green cover during the construction phase.
Noida Metro will follow the example set by one of the largest rapid transits systems in the world — the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which already operates a number of rooftop solar power projects. DMRC operates 6.3 MW of rooftop solar power systems at various stations and has signed power purchase agreements for 32 MW of additional capacity. The company plans to have an installed rooftop solar power capacity of 50 MW by 2021.
DMRC has also signed an agreement to purchase electricity generated from the planned 750 MW solar power park in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Power generated from the Rewa-based solar power park will be transmitted to Delhi, around 800 kilometers away.
Delhi Metro has agreed to procure at least 121 million kWh of electricity every year from the first phase. Once all the phases are operational, Delhi Metro may increase procurement to 363 million kWh per year.
By Baishakhi Dutta
