The solarization of 37 railway stations has been completed whereby Pakistan Railways can reduce the use of conventional power and can save Rs163.52 million per year in the cost of electric power. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nine stations have already been converted to solar power, in Punjab 28 out of 60 stations.
Significant stations in Punjab which have been converted to solar power are Lahore Cantt, Walton, Raiwind, Kot Lakhpat, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shorkot, Sangla Hill and Hassanabdal. Some of the solarized stations are KP, Peshawar City, Nowshera, Attock City Kundian and Jand.
The government is looking to convert 155 railway stations across the country with an estimated cost of Rs450 million to solar power. Plans are also underway to solarize another 42 stations with that being done at the end of this year. In Multan and Rawalpindi alone in the province of Punjab 32 stations are being solarized with seven million rupee saved annually. In Balochistan, 10 others are also under conversion with the cost of Rs13.39 million, which will save a bill of Rs 9.18 million annually.
Read more: ADB Approves $2B for Pakistan Railway Upgrade
Bidding is under procedure to solarise 61 in Sindh and 15 in Balochistan and the estimated saving in this is Rs113.86 million per year. Along with this push, ADB is financing the modernization of the Karachi-Rohri line, and the Punjab government is providing support to fast train lines and track dualization to make rail transportation modern.
Solarization of 37 railway stations concludes a milestone on sustainable and cost effective operations of Pakistan Railways.
