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Indian Railways Extends Partnership with CII to Boost Environmental Sustainability

Indian Railways, a major player in the transportation sector, has set an ambitious target of achieving 'Net Zero Carbon Emission' by the year 2030.

January 06, 2024. By Abha Rustagi

Indian Railways has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the third consecutive term on January 4, 2024.

The MoU was exchanged between Shailendra Singh, Principal Executive Director of Railway Board, and Seema Arora, Deputy Director General of CII, in the presence of Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Railway Board, along with other board members and senior officers.

Indian Railways, a major player in the transportation sector, has set an ambitious target of achieving 'Net Zero Carbon Emission' by the year 2030. The collaboration with CII, which began in July 2016, focuses on promoting and facilitating green initiatives across the railway network. The first MoU, signed in 2016 for three years, was renewed in 2019 for an additional three years, leading to substantial progress in various areas.

The initiatives undertaken have resulted in commendable achievements, including energy efficiency in manufacturing facilities and railway workshops, with savings of 210 lakh kWh and monetary savings of INR 16 crores.

The GreenCo rating system has been implemented in 75 railway units, significantly improving their environmental performance. Approximately 40 railway stations have achieved green certification, demonstrating considerable improvements by saving 22 million kWh energy and 3 billion litres of water annually. Over 40 buildings, including administrative buildings, hospitals, schools, and colonies, have been facilitated to achieve green certification.

Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Railway Board, expressed optimism about the renewed collaboration, emphasizing Indian Railways' consistent commitment to sustainable practices. She stated, "This renewed MoU with CII-GBC marks a significant step towards our collective goal of achieving Net Zero carbon emissions."

Seema Arora, Deputy Director General of CII, commended Indian Railways for its efforts in implementing green measures and promoting sustainable practices. She highlighted the importance of the partnership in driving sustainable development, stating, "Our renewed partnership with Indian Railways signifies a strategic shift towards the Net Zero framework. This alignment with global sustainability goals underscores our dedication to creating a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future."

Under the renewed MoU, CII will collaborate in bringing new technologies and their implementation, assist in achieving ISO 50001 certification of workshops/production units, develop a Net-Zero Energy Railway station framework, and create an information dashboard to highlight advancements in green initiatives throughout the year.

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Business

Indian Railways

MoU

Memorandum of Understanding

Net Zero Carbon Emissions

Confederation of Indian Industry

CII