CHENNAI: Southern Railway will set up solar power plants at 18 stations in northern Tamil Nadu, including 17 in Chennai and its suburbs, to minimise emissions.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has granted consent for operation of the plants, said Chennai divisional railway manager Ganesh at the 67th Railway Week celebrations organised by the division on Thursday.
The stations are: Egmore, MGR Central, Tambaram, Chengalpet, Arakkonam, Jolarpet, Singaperumal Koil, Perungalathur, Guduvanchery, Tiruvallur, Tiruttani, Mambalam, Palavanthangal, Guindy, Beach, Velachery, Avadi and Perambur.
He said, “Our endeavour is to make Chennai division carbon neutral and zero waste. Chennai Central has become the first railway station of Southern Railway to meet its energy demand during day time with solar energy. Nine 5KWp of solar plants have been provided in office, service and station buildings in Chennai division.”
As part of the efforts of moving to cashless transactions, 36 additional point of sale machines have been given to passenger reservation and integrated unreserved ticketing system counters.
“It is proposed to provide 130 new (automatic ticket vending machines) ATVMs at stations. Thirty four ATVMs have been provided so far.”
Elimination of seven manned level crossing gates, increasing of speed on loop line from 15 to 30 kmph, commissioning of third line on Tambaram-Guduvanchery section, removal of nine permanent speed restrictions, rehabilitation of a bridge, 57 CTRs, commissioning of double distant signals between Arakkonam and Renigunta section are some of the recent works that were carried out.
He also said that punctuality of mail and express trains is 94.5% while speed of goods trains has been increased to 50kmph.
S Anantharaman former divisional railway manager of Chennai division, and principal chief operating manager of Southern Railway urged the authorities to focus on safety, loading, passenger service and updating technology.
Ganesh distributed merit certificates staff members for their outstanding performance.
Source: PTI
