North East Frontier Railway takes initiative to reduce its carbon footprint

SILIGURI: Taking a big step towards energy conservation, India’s North East Frontier Railway (NFR) replace old conventional power-guzzling lighting equipment with energy-efficient LED lights by 31st March at all stations. This will be done without spending a single penny from its budget meant for the conversion work.

NFR, that connents the eastern part of the country to rest of India, has total 505 stations under it. “A total of 260 stations have already been completely fitted with LED fittings. Other stations will have full conversion by 31st march,” said NF Railway spokesman P J Sharma.

Railways has engaged an agency named Energy Efficiency Services Limited to complete the work. Interestingly, “NFR will not have to pay any amount from its budget to the agency. It will be paid from the savings done from energy bill,” said Sharma.

According to him, NFR will save about Rs 67 lakh in energy bill from only 2 A1 category and 20 A category stations annually. Thus, total savings from all the stations put together will be much higher. After stations, other service buildings like offices or quarters etc. are also in the queue for 100% LED conversion that will further increase the energy savings when completed.

Apart from these, all new assets being constructed in NFR including new lines or stations are being fitted with full LED lighting from the very beginning.

As the current status goes, Tinsukia division of NFR has become the 1st Division to complete 100% LED conversion. In its Katihar Division, out of 132 electrified stations, 129 have been covered. In Alipurduar Division, 59 out of 85 stations have already been converted. In Rangiya Division, 77 out of 97 got already converted. Lumding Division could convert 68 stations out of 124.