Now,Salem Railway Junction with Solar Power Plant

Salem (SA): The commissioning of the 3.25 Kilo Watts Power (kWp) solar power plant at the Salem Railway Junction is expected to bring down the dependence of the Railways on the traditional energy to a considerable extent.

The solar plant set up atop the newly extended building of the Salem Railway Junction was inaugurated by A. K. Agarwal, General Manager in-charge, Southern Railway, in the presence of Shubranshu, Divisional Railway Manager and V. Panneerselvam, MP, on Tuesday.

The plant has been set up under the Solar Mission of Indian Railways Programme at an outlay of Rs. 3.97 lakh. This is on-grid type plant and will provide power to entire new extended station building, unreserved ticket booking counters, information centre etc, except air-conditioners.

Mr. Shubhranshu said that the solar plant will provide totally green source of energy. Power generation is done at the point of consumption, due to which it will register zero running cost. The capacity of the PV panel is 3.25 Kilo Watts Power and the plant will generate 13 – 15 units per day.

The 13 solar panels have been setup in the shadow free area so that they get direct sunlight throughout the day.

This is the second major solar project implemented by the Salem Division. Only recently, the Salem division commissioned its first green power station at Attur Railway Station to harness green and renewable energy.

The Salem Division has also installed solar powered water pumps in Perugamani Railway station near Tiruchi.

The Salem Division is according priority for generating solar energy in a big way. It has planned to setup a 100 KV solar panel in the divisional office to tap renewable energy resources.

The project will be executed at Rs. One crore in the next few months, Mr. Shubhranshu said.

The Salem division has proposed to commission solar power plant in a phased manner in major railway stations such as Coimbatore, Coimbatore North, and Erode.

The division has also proposed to convert all the manned level crossings in Salem division solar powered shortly, so that there will be no need for dependence on power for their functioning.

Mr. Agarwal appreciating the Salem Railway Division’s initiative of according priority for solar power plants, said that the Railways will fully back the division’s all efforts in this direction.