Solar panel dome sees light of the day after seven years

Vadodara: Around seven years after it was envisaged, the Solar Dome on the Akota-Dandiabazaar road finally saw the light of the day formally on Thursday. The dome, touted to be the first of its kind project, is erected on a road within the city.
The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) had envisaged the project in July 2014 soon after the Akota-Dandiabazaar road was inaugurated in February 2014. But work began on the project only a year later.
Besides a solar power generation unit, the dome was planned as a structure that would be an attraction on the road that has emerged as a place where many spend time or go for a drive. It is also popular amongst walkers, runners and cyclists.
The project was delayed due to several roadblocks. The progress on the project remained slow. Several reasons including accidents during work, VMC’s reluctance to close traffic completely on the road as well as the lockdown led to the tardy progress of the project.
The VMC was initially looking to install solar panels on a public-private partnership mode so that it did not have to spend much on the project. However, it had to do away with the idea as there were not many takers for it. “The project was delayed due to situations we had not expected. But it still remains a novel project,” said an official.
Speaking at the inauguration, energy minister Saurabh Patel said that the project was located in the heart of the city and would lead to saving lakhs of rupees. A memorandum of understanding for the project was also exchanged by the VMC and Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Ltd.