The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) will introduce more environment-friendly diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) rakes for passenger trains to tackle traffic congestion.
The Konkan Railway’s environment conservation initiatives include roll-on roll-off service which transports trucks on wagons making it possible to move them through the Western Ghats between Kolad and Suratkal. The service was introduced in 1999 and has so far transported five lakh trucks and saved about 750 lakh litres of fuel, said a spokesperson of the KRCL here on Saturday, on the eve of World Environment Day.
The KRCL has also developed a low-cost automatic coach-washing plant. This technology utilises 70 per cent less water, with over 10 million litres of water being saved at each plant, annually. The effluent treatment plant attached to these facilitates recycle the consumed water.
The KRCL has undertaken rainwater harvesting at five stations: Kamathe, Ratnagiri, Ukshi, Ankola and Murdeshwar. Besides, all new buildings and installations on its route will be provided with rainwater harvesting systems in the future.
The provision of bio toilets on trains is another attempt. “We have so far installed bio toilets in one fourth of our coaches and at 11 of our railway stations,” said the spokesman.
In addition, organic waste convertors that convert bio-degradable waste into compost have been installed at Ratnagiri, Madgaon and Karwar stations. A bio digester has also been installed at Ratnagiri station, and the bio gas generated, is used for cooking.
KRCL’s another effort on the energy management front is a 350-kilowatt solar park at Ratnagiri, which caters to the power requirements of the city.
Published - June 04, 2016 02:27 pm IST
