Tiruchi Railway Division to tap solar power at 10 railway stations as an eco-friendly measure to take care of its energy requirements

The Tiruchi Railway Division intends to use solar electricity at ten railway stations within its authority as an environmentally beneficial method to meet its energy needs and reduce power costs in the long term. Green energy will be harnessed by erecting solar power plants at the following ten stations: Chidambaram, Ariyalur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Karaikal, Thiruthuraipoondi, Mannargudi, Vellore, Srirangam, and Tiruvannamalai.

The divisional railway authority initiated the process lately by issuing a tender for the delivery, installation, testing, and commissioning of solar power plants with a capacity of 10 KWp at each of the ten nominated stations.  According to railway sources, solar panels will be put on the rooftops of these stations' platform shelters to harvest solar electricity. The installation is estimated to cost 45 lakh.

While Srirangam and Ariyalur are on the Tiruchi-Villupuram chord line, Chidambaram and Cuddalore are on the Thanjavur-Villupuram mainline. According to the sources, solar power plants would be linked to the on-grid system. Once operational, the solar plants at the ten stations were planned to generate 12,000 units per month, saving the railroads around one lakh each month.

To meet energy requirements, solar power panels have already been installed at various locations throughout the Southern Railway network, including the Divisional Railway Manager's office in Tiruchi, the Chief Workshop Manager's office at the Golden Rock Railway Workshop in Tiruchi, and at some stations.