Lok Sabha Question No. 2355 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-26
Subject: Solar Panels on Vacant Land
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH, HARI BABU KAMBHAMPATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2355 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.12.2018

## SOLAR PANELS ON VACANT LAND

2355.  SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH:

## DR. KAMBHAMPATI HARIBABU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to State:

- (a) whether the Railways plans to sell some of the electricity produced through its solar projects to State DISCOMS;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of existing solar energy production capacity of railways;
- (d) the  details  of  the  total  unused  land  in  possession  of  the railways  which  could  be  utilized  for  installation  of  solar panels; zone-wise;
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any study to make railway sleepers mounted solar panels to generate electricity; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the details of any such plan, if any, prepared by the Railways?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a)  &  (b)  No,  Madam.  State  DISCOMs  would  be  approached  for Selling/banking of solar power, as and when the need arises.
- (c) Indian Railways  has  planned to set up 500  Mega Watt (MW) of

Solar Plants on Railway stations and Service buildings and 500 MW of Land based Solar plants. Out of the above, total 71.19 MW has already been set up and rest is in various stages of commissioning/planning.

(d) As on 31.03.2018, Indian Railways has about 0.51 Lakh hectare (approximately)  of  vacant  land  which  is  mostly  in  the  form  of narrow strip of varying width along the track. This narrow strip of land  is  required  for  maintenance/operational  and  development purpose  of  Railways  infrastructure.  However,  part  of  this  narrow strip can be utilized for installation of Solar Panels after Feasibility study.  Details  of  Vacant  land  Zonal  Railway  wise  is  placed  at Appended.

(e) & (f) No, Madam, There is no study of sleepers mounted Solar panels, as the concrete sleepers are laid below the rail and need to be exposed for regular maintenance.

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APPENDIX  REFFERED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (d)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  2355  BY  SHRI  SUSHIL  KUMAR  SINGH  AND  DR. KAMBHAMPATI  HARIBABU  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 26.12.2018 REGARDING SOLAR PANELS ON VACANT LAND.

## (d)  Details of vacant land Zonal Railways wise in Hectares: -

| Zonal Railway      |   Vacant Land in Hectares |
|--------------------|---------------------------|
| Central            |                   2022.03 |
| Eastern            |                   2110.49 |
| East Central       |                   4094.75 |
| East Coast         |                   3011.28 |
| Northern           |                  11438.7  |
| North Central      |                    735.11 |
| North Eastern      |                   5564.67 |
| Northeast Frontier |                   1410.45 |
| North Western      |                   1277.35 |
| Southern           |                   2741.44 |
| South Central      |                   1276.58 |
| South Eastern      |                    464.76 |
| South East Central |                   3142.72 |
| South Western      |                   4662.15 |
| Western            |                   6258.54 |
| West Central       |                    617.45 |
| Total              |                  50828.5  |

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