The Indian Railways (IR) and the Confederation for Indian Industries (CII) have renewed a MoU to promote green initiatives.

The updated Memorandum of Understanding aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of energy and water used for sustainable transportation. The IR will be able to achieve its 2030 goal of net zero carbon emissions due to this initiative.

Technology collaboration is one of the new initiatives covered by this Memorandum. CII will find new technologies, facilitate their application, and help workshops and production units become certified ISO 50001 facilities. Additionally, it will help IR create the information dashboard and station frameworks for the Net-Zero Energy Railway.

The CII-IR collaboration began in July 2014. Every three years, the two parties renewed their Memorandum of Understanding.

Here is a look at the progress so far:

1. Energy efficiency in manufacturing facilities and railway workshops:

Energy savings of 210 lakh kWh
Monetary savings of Rs 16 crore
GHG emissions reduction of around 18000 tons of CO2

2. Green co rating: This initiative has been implemented in 75 railway units (workshops & manufacturing facilities) to improve IR’s environmental performance.

3. Green railway stations: Around 40 stations have achieved green certificates.

Saved 22 million KWh energy and
3 billion liters of water annually

4. Green buildings, hospitals, schools, and colonies: Over 40 building facilities, including administrative buildings, hospitals, schools, and colonies have been facilitated to achieve green certification.

5. Capacity building and skill development:

On-boarded more than 20 new technology suppliers
Around 150 IR officials were exposed to the 6 best energy-efficient private sector plants in India
Around 900 IR officials trained on different aspects of energy efficiency

Quotes:

Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Railway Board, said, “Indian Railways has consistently demonstrated its commitment to sustainable practices.”

Seema Arora, Deputy Director General, CII, said, “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 for generations to come. We look forward to implementing cutting-edge solutions that will pave the way for a more environmentally responsible railway network.”