Close on the heels of Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) opting for solar power, the Waltair railway division is making a foray into tapping non-conventional energy by setting up rooftop solar panels on Vizag Railway Station and its service buildings in the city.
Waltair division is aiming at putting in place rooftop solar power system by the end of January or February 2017. It is the first among the East Coast Railway stations to take up the initiative.
The division is planning to generate up to 1 mw at peak by installing the rooftop solar panels at Vizag Railway station and five other buildings including the office of the divisional railway manager, railway hospital, new coaching complex, diesel and electrical loco sheds.
The project is estimated to cost around Rs 8 crore and the developer will be responsible for designing, engineering, procurement, erection (including civil and structural works), installation, testing and commissioning of the solar PV systems including operation and maintenance (O&M) of the systems for a period of 25 years after commissioning of the project.
By Baishakhi Dutta
