The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) presented the 'Green Railway Station' accreditation to Vijayawada Railway Station on 5 September (Tuesday), giving it the highest grade of Platinum in recognition of its efforts to raise environmental standards and offer eco-friendly services to passengers. The station's ratings have been upgraded from gold in 2019 to platinum in 2023.
It is a proud occasion for the Vijayawada train station, the second in the South Central train (SCR) zone after Secunderabad, according to Divisional Railway Manager Narendra A. Patil. Mr. Narendra Patil praised the efforts of all the staff members involved in pulling off this achievement and noted that the energy-saving and solid waste management initiatives they implemented over the past few years were key in helping the station get the platinum certification.
Use of star-rated electrical appliances, LED lighting, the installation of a sewage treatment plant to recycle wastewater, periodic testing to check smoke emission, increasing green coverage, better passenger amenities, the availability of medical facilities, close proximity to bus stops, avoiding single-use plastics, and the use of thorough mechanised cleaning for efficient waste segregation and disposal are a few of these measures.
To encourage the adoption of green ideas and improve the overall passenger experience, the IGBC established the Green Railway Stations grading system with the help of the Environment Directorate of Indian Railways. A sustainable station facility, health, hygiene, and sanitation, energy efficiency, water efficiency, smart and green initiatives, and innovation and development are among the six environmental criteria that make up the ranking system as set out by the IGBC.
