Jammu, Oct 5: Taking a step towards environmental protection and self-reliance, Jammu Railway Division of the Northern Railway has achieved a major milestone in the field of solar energy, by successfully generating electricity through it (solar power) at its 5 major depots.
Solar power plants are being rapidly expanded to energise various stations and railway premises of the division with clean, green and modern energy.
At present, according to railway officials, solar plants with a total capacity of 1745 kWp (1.745 MW) are successfully generating electricity at 5 major depots of Jammu Railway Division. They include the platforms of Jammu Railway Station, Booking Office, Parcel House to the huge 1 MW plant, installed at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station, where the energy needs of the railways are being met by sunlight.
Taking this journey of solar energy forward, according to them, 18 new solar plants with a capacity of 808 kWp are now being installed in the Railway Division. After commissioning of these new plants, the total solar power capacity of Jammu (Railway) Division will increase to 2553 kWp (2.55 MW).
Elaborating about this achievement, Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer Vishal Rathi said, “Work on the new plant of 450 kWp capacity at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station has been started by Messrs Sankalp Realmart Private Limited from September 12, 2026, which will be completed by December, 2026. Along with this, work on 13 plants of 358 kWp capacity at Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur Railway Station will also start soon.”
Lauding this historic achievement of Jammu Railway Division, Vivek Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Jammu, said, “Our goal is not just to operate trains but to take Indian Railways towards a clean, green and sustainable future. Every station of Jammu (Railway) Division will be illuminated with solar energy in the coming times and we will fulfill our responsibility towards the environment with full dedication.”
Listing advantages of this initiative both in terms of finances and environment protection, the officials point out that there will be a reduction of thousands of tons of carbon emissions annually, which is equivalent to planting thousands of trees.
“This will realise the dream of clean air and a green Railway. Besides, the use of solar energy will help railways save lakhs of rupees annually on electricity bills. This amount will be utilised to further improve passenger amenities,” they assert, adding that with its own electricity and energy, dependence of Division on the power grid would be reduced and 24×7 uninterrupted power supply would be ensured in railway premises.
