Top News

Bureau Prayagraj- Renovation of 109 ponds, reservoirs and wetlands on railway land was signed to generate 909 MW of solar power and 103 MW of additional 3,300 MW projects. Additionally, plantation along the railway tracks plays an important role in improving the safety of the infrastructure. Tree roots help bind soil, reducing erosion and preventing landslides, especially in mountainous and high-rainfall areas. Vegetation cover controls surface runoff and increases water absorption, reducing the risk of destabilization of tracks. These nature-based measures not only protect railway assets but also ensure safer and more reliable journeys for passengers.

Water: Harvesting, Recycling, Auditing, Restoration

Water crisis is one of the biggest crises of our century. Indian Railways, which operates hundreds of washing lines, maintenance depots, catering facilities and passenger amenities and consumes millions of liters of water every day, has taken planned and concrete steps to reduce water usage across all its zones. The approach is comprehensive: harvesting rainwater before it flows into runoff, recycling waste water for non-drinking uses, identifying waste by auditing water consumption and rehabilitating contaminated water bodies within railway lands.

Rainwater harvesting on rooftops (RWH): collecting rain right where it falls

Since 2016-17, Indian Railways has installed rain water harvesting (RWH) structures on a total of 8,313 rooftops across all railway zones. In the last two years alone, 2,915 new structures were commissioned, including 1,215 units set up under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) campaign in 2024-25, underscoring active coordination with national water conservation missions. South Central Railway is at the forefront of this initiative by installing 3,128 RWH structures.

The rainwater harvesting infrastructure of Indian Railways serves a dual purpose, which is especially visible during extreme weather events. Rooftop water harvesting systems installed at stations and yards collect and drain monsoon water, thereby preventing waterlogging on platforms and adjacent tracks on the one hand, while recharging underground aquifers on the other. In water-stressed areas of Rajasthan or rain-shadow areas of the Deccan, these systems are a lifeline for operations. The collected water is used in station facilities such as toilets, cleaning and gardening, reducing reliance on tanker supplies and municipal water connections, which are often unavailable or unreliable at remote stations.

water recycling plant

Across all zones, Indian Railways has commissioned a total of 185 Water Recycling Plants (WRP). From a base of 21 plants that existed before 2015-16, the process of commissioning has continued unabated, and the last financial year has been the strongest year yet with 26 new plants being commissioned. Northern Railway leads among all zones with 27 plants, followed by Central Railway (21) and Southern Railway (20). These plants treat wastewater from coach washing and yard operations for reuse in non-potable uses such as station cleaning, gardening and industrial processes, thereby reducing freshwater withdrawals from scarce aquifers and municipal systems.

310 audits have been recorded so far in 2025-26, the highest in any single year. South Central Railway leads with 442 audits, followed by Northern Railway (323) and Western Railway (216). Through these audits, key areas of water consumption, pipe leaks and system deficiencies are identified, thereby converting the awareness into targeted savings. The discipline of measurement is the foundation of meaningful conservation.

Indian Railways to save 178 crore liters of diesel in 2024-25 compared to 2016-17, a saving of 62%, thereby reducing import dependence on crude oil. This directly reduces India’s dependence on imported crude oil amid the West Asia crisis. By gradually moving from diesel to domestically produced electricity, increasingly derived from renewable sources, the Railways has effectively isolated its operations from the volatility of the global oil market. Electric traction has been found to be far more cost-effective and environment-friendly than alternatives such as biodiesel, making it not only an environment-friendly option but also an economically responsible option.

Bio-toilet: eco-friendly sanitation on rail

Indian Railways has significantly contributed to environmental sustainability and passenger hygiene by installing more than 3.66 lakh bio-toilets in passenger coaches since 2014. This initiative has effectively eliminated direct discharge of human excreta on railway tracks, ensuring cleaner stations, better hygiene and a cleaner travel experience for millions of passengers. The bio-toilet system decomposes human excreta into water and gases using indigenous technology based on microbial action, thereby significantly reducing environmental pollution and odor and maintaining cleanliness throughout the network.

This initiative plays an important role in environmental protection by preventing contamination of soil and tracks, reducing degradation of railway assets and promoting eco-friendly waste management. By achieving zero direct emissions and supporting sustainable sanitation practices, Indian Railways is contributing to a cleaner ecosystem and greener future while improving passenger comfort.

Renewable Energy: Powering the Future with Sun and Wind

Indian Railways has made renewable energy the cornerstone of its long-term operational strategy. By December 2025, approximately 909 MW of solar power plants and 103 MW of wind power plants have been commissioned across the network. In addition to the already operational plants, Railways has signed agreements with developers in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh for additional renewable capacity of 3,300 MW, including solar, wind and hybrid round-the-clock (RTC) systems, thereby ensuring continuous supply of clean energy to maintain long-term energy security. This reflects a planned shift towards long-term, stable value green procurement.

LED lighting: an efficiently illuminated network

Indian Railways has installed 100% LED lighting in its offices, railway stations, service buildings and residential colonies. This is a massive transformation that spans thousands of locations, from remote stations to the country’s largest junctions.