Solar Power Makes an Effect at Mumbai Suburban Stations

15 stations on the Western Line of Mumbai’s suburban train system have got a special solar powered facility.

The 100% solar powered systems can charge up to 8 phones at a time, and 100 during the day. The Western Railway division of Indian railway, which manages this line, has provided the facility free of cost to its users, available 24X7.

The panels for the charging kiosks have been mounted on the station rooftops, with an LCD display on the ground giving real-time information on the solar power generated, CO2 saved and battery status.

Starting from Churchgate station, to Grant Road, Mumbai Central, Lower Parel, Dadar, Santacruz, Andheri (W), Kandivali (W), Borivali (E), Borivali (W), Vasai (W), Nallasopara (W), Virar, Boisar and Palghar have been provided this for now. Another 5 stations are in line to get the facility.

The facility, while bound to be welcomed by commuters in the city, where over 4 million of them use the western line train services every day. Thus, chances are, a single kiosk at every station will be too little, even if a good start. The central Railways managed central line and the Harbour line will move quickly to emulate the western railways in the initiative.

The cost of each of these kiosks is Rs 1 lakh, but these have been provided to the railways under a CSR programme, according to Shri Ravinder Bhakar, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway.