Vizag Railway Station To Get Solar Units Soon

In order to make our city more progressive, the Waltair Railway Division has planned to set up roof-top solar panels at the railway stations and other offices in a public private partnership (PPP mode). Railway stations and the associated office buildings in Andhra Pradesh will soon come up with photovoltaic (PV) systems. The building belongs to Waltair Railway Division, which has announced plans regarding the installation of 1MV of PV through public-private partnerships at its headquarters in Visakhapatnam.

One bidder, Gurgaon-based ReNew Solar Power Private Limited, has reportedly finalized a 25 year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the rail division. It has been reported that the project is scheduled for completion by the end of the July.

A senior railway official reportedly stated that the project developer would be responsible for designing, engineering, procurement, construction (including civil and structural works), installation, testing and commissioning of the solar panel systems for 25 years after the launch of the project.

The solar panels would be set up in service buildings, including Vizag railway station, DRM office, Divisional Railway Hospital, Electrical Loco Shed and Diesel Loco Shed. As the APEPDCL supplies power at ‘ 7 per unit, the present company would supply power at ‘ 5.76 a unit. Such similar installation of roof-top solar panels was already intiated in Secundrabad railway station a few years ago, even the North Western Railways have implemented the system.

According to the railway officials, the finalisation of business in regard to pricing for supply of power has been delayed, and now the bidder is ready with the models of solar panels. If everything goes well, the installation works will be completed soon by the end of July.