In keeping with its objective to resort to more eco-friendly sources of energy and a measure to strengthen mechanisms to cater to energy demands, Northern Railway today commenced the project for providing a Solar Power Plant at Shri Mata Vaishno Katra Railway Station. The project for starting the work of installation commenced today at a simple ceremony held at Katra station today. Sh. Arunendra Kumar, Chairman Railway Board( Ex-Officio Principle Secretary to Government of India), Ministry of Railways presided over the function, in presence of Sh. A.K. Jain, Managing Director M/s Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Ltd. Jaipur and senior Railway officers and staff. (M/s Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Ltd. Jaipur (CPSU-Under Ministry of Heavy Industries) was awarded the contract for installation of 1 MWp roof top grid connected Solar Power Plant work.)

Earlier, while inaugurating the opening of Udhampur-Katra new Railway Line of Udhampur- Srinagar- Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL) Project on 4th July 2014, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his desire for providing a Solar Power Plant at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station as a green energy initiative to be a part of National Solar Mission. Chairman Railway Board committed to Hon’ble Prime Minister for providing the Solar Power Plant at Katra Railway Station by March’2015. In this connection, M/s Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Ltd. Jaipur was awarded the contract on 07.10.2014against open bidding with completion period of 4 months.

This Solar Power Plant is being installed at a cost of Rs 8.52 Crores and it will generate 14.6 lakh units per annum. The accrued benefit will be reduction of 10000 tonns of carbon dioxide per annum and a saving of Rs 1 crore per annum on energy bills to the Railway. This plant will be commissioned in three phased-progamme with installation of 300 KWp at Platform No-2/3 by Dec’2014 In First Phase followed by installation of 500 KWp at Platform No-1 by Jan’2015 in second phase and subsequently installation of 200 KWp in final phase on roof top of the station building by Feb’2015.