With electrification of more routes high on its agenda and electricity from conventional sources being costly, the Railways is planning to set up a power generation plant using wind energy.

Having a capacity of 10 MW, the proposed plant will be commissioned at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Perambur on a pilot basis. While the total cost of setting up the plant has been estimated at Rs 60 crore, the Railways has planned an outlay of Rs 5 lakh during the current fiscal. To set the ball rolling, it has sought a token amount of Rs 1,000 in its Supplementary Demand for Grants for 2007-08.

Once commissioned, the plant is expected to make electricity available at Rs 3.50 per unit as against the Rs 4.92 per unit rate at which the Railways currently purchases power.

According to railway officials, besides being much cheaper, electricity from wind energy could earn the Railways carbon credits because of being environment-friendly.

There is a growing feeling in the Railways that the technology has now matured and turbines having capacities up to 2 MW are now being manufactured and commissioned. The officials feel the idea has great potential in southern India, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Railways plans to electrify around 3,500 km of track during the 11th Plan (2007-12) in comparison to the 10th Plan target of 1,800 km.

Projects planned

• To provide more comfortable journey to unreserved passengers, Railways plans to retrofit 11,000 General Second Class coaches and 5,00 Second-Class Luggage coaches with cushioned seats at an estimated cost of Rs 186 crore: total outlay Rs 1 lakh for the current fiscal; Railways seeks a token grant of Rs 1,000 to start work

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