Vijayawada railway division cuts carbon emissions by 3,500 tonnes with solar and HOG tech

The South Coast Railway's Vijayawada Division has reported cutting over 3,500 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2025-26 through a mix of solar expansion and energy efficiency measures. The division installed 4,754 kWp of solar capacity, including rooftop panels at 69 stations and Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems at key locations. The solar infrastructure generated 44.06 lakh units of electricity, saving Rs 4.37 crore in costs. Train operations were transformed using Head-On Generation (HOG) technology, which eliminates diesel generator cars from trains like the Pinakini and Satavahana Express. This saved Rs 70.60 crore annually and prevented 15,559 tonnes of emissions. External power supply systems at depots further reduced diesel use by 1.07 lakh litres. Water conservation and waste management improvements also contributed, with the division earning IGBC Platinum Certification for Vijayawada station and environmental clearances for 20 NGT-designated stations.