Metro depots to have rooftop solar systems

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has entered into an agreement with Cleanmax to instal rooftop solar system at Baiyappanahalli and Peenya depots, under public-private partnership.

N M Dhoke, Director (RSE) said the BMRCL would not be spending on the project, which will be installed in four months after awarding the contract.

Instead, BMRCL will buy power from the contractors at a rate of Rs 5.56/ unit for the first three years and Rs 5.6 per unit in the subsequent years. At present, BMRCL is buying power from Bescom between 6 am and 6 pm at a rate of Rs 5.70/unit.

“Considering the average tariff increment trend of Bescom, which is between 5-6% per annum, we will be saving approximately Rs 51.74 crore over the next 25 years. Apart from exploiting solar potentials, our dependence on Bescom will come down,” he said and added that a similar model would be adopted at all Metro stations in the future.