A Chennai-based company has commenced work to establish a 50 MW Solar Power Plant at Charoda in Bhilai to help the Raipur Railway Division run its trains. It will be ready by March 2021.
The project is being undertaken in cooperation with the Railway Energy Management Co Ltd (REMCL), a joint venture of the Ministry of Railways and Rail India Technical and Economic Services Ltd (RITES), a Central government enterprise.
The Railways have handed over 122 hectares of land on a 27-year lease to establish the solar power plant. The work is expected to be completed by March 2021, said a statement issued by Raipur Railway Division, which falls within the South East Central Railway (SECR).
The Chennai-based company will carry out the maintenance of the power plant for 25 years on completion of the project. The solar power generated will be utilized by the Raipur division for train operations.
The statement said that at present electricity is procured at a rate of Rs 4.50 to Rs 4.75 per unit. After the solar power plant comes up, the cost will be Rs 2.09, a benefit of Rs 1.70 per unit.
This will help Railways to save Rs 360 crores over the next 25 years.
The statement said that soon the division will also operate solar powered trains. The main aim is to shift from traditional energy sources to greener energy to protect the environment.