Srinagar|Oct 05: The Jammu Division of Northern Railway is expanding its solar power network, with 18 new plants planned across railway premises that will take its total installed solar capacity to 2.55 MW from the existing 1.745 MW.
The division currently has solar plants with a combined capacity of 1,745 KWp operational at five major railway locations, including Jammu Railway Station and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station, where a 1 MW solar plant is already functional.
The expansion comes as the Railways seeks to increase the use of renewable energy while reducing its dependence on conventional electricity and lowering operational costs.
Work on 18 additional solar plants with a combined capacity of 808 KWp is being expedited. Once commissioned, the division’s total solar capacity will reach 2,553 KWp.
Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer Vishal Rathi said work on a new 450 KWp solar plant at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra station began on September 12 and is scheduled for completion by December 2026.
He said work on another 13 solar plants with a combined capacity of 358 KWp at Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur Railway Station would also begin shortly.
Railway officials said the increased use of solar energy is expected to reduce carbon emissions and generate savings on electricity bills. The savings, they said, could subsequently be utilised for improving passenger amenities and other railway infrastructure.
The division also expects greater use of locally generated solar power to reduce its dependence on the electricity grid and strengthen energy availability at railway premises.
Divisional Railway Manager Jammu Vivek Kumar said the division was working towards expanding solar power use across its network.
“Our goal is not just to operate trains, but to take Indian Railways towards a clean, green and sustainable future. Every station of Jammu Division will be illuminated with solar energy in the coming times,” Kumar said.
The Railways said the ongoing expansion is part of its broader efforts to promote renewable energy and make railway operations more environmentally sustainable.
