Delhi Metro will install solar panels on the roof of pedestrian overbridges to generate clean and cheaper energy for use at stations.
The first project will be taken up on a 250-metre overbridge at Kalkaji station on the soon-to-start Botanical Garden-Janakpuri West line in the phase 3 expansion of the rail network.
Power comprises 34 per cent of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s total input cost. The corporation had cited rising power costs as one of the main reasons for justifying the recent tariff hike.
According to Hindustan Times, DMRC has so far commissioned solar power facilities with a generation capacity of approx. 2,800 kWp with plants at Dwarka Sector 21, Anand Vihar, Pragati Maidan, Metro Enclave, Yamuna bank station, Yamuna bank depot, Faridabad RSS, ITO, Ajronda depot and the Faridabad metro stations.
It has also signed an agreement with the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar to source 35 million units of solar power to meet effectively the entire energy needs on the phase 3 network.
Since most of the pedestrian over bridges or foot over bridges (FOBs) at Metro stations do not have roofs, the corporation will check the feasibility of the project at Kalkaji. If it is a success, then it will replicated at other stations.
