<p>The Konkan Railway has always been a forerunner in adopting and ensuring eco-friendly initiatives in its working.<br /><br /></p>.<p>It is, for instance, a matter of pride that Konkan Railway is one of the oldest signatories of United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since October 2001. There are 307 participants from India, out of which 28 public sector undertakings and Konkan Railway have the distinction of becoming its members since inception. <br /><br />Some of the initiatives of Konkan Railway for environment conservation is a unique and innovative Roll-On Roll-Off service, which transports road trucks on rail wagons, making it possible to move them through the Western Ghats between Kolad and Suratkal. <br /><br />The Ro-Ro service transported 5 lakh road trucks and saved about 750 lakh litres of fuel since its inception. Apart from huge savings to the economy of the country, it has also resulted in ameliorating traffic congestion on roads and significantly benefited with pollution free environment of the Konkan Region.<br /><br />Introduction of fuel-efficient and environment-friendly DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) services is another step in this direction. The Konkan Railway plans to introduce more DEMU rakes for its passengers trains in the near future.<br /><br />Konkan Railway has also developed an indigenous low cost robust ‘Automatic Coach Washing Plant’ technology for the cleaning of train coaches. This technology utilises 70 per cent less water than its manual cleaning counterpart, with over than 10 million litres of water saved at each plant annually. <br /><br />The effluent treatment plant attached to this facilitates the recycling of consumed water. Rainwater harvesting units at five stations – Kamathe, Ratnagiri, Ukshi, Ankola and Murudeshwar – is another effort to conserve water, which is being adopted by Konkan Railway. All new buildings and installations on KR route will be provided with rainwater harvesting systems in the future.<br /><br />The bio-toilets will be installed at all upcoming restrooms at Konkan Railway stations. In addition, ‘Organic Waste Converters’ that convert biodegradable waste into compost have been installed at Ratnagiri, Madgaon and Karwar stations. Another effort on the energy management front is a 350-kilowatt capacity solar park at Ratnagiri, which caters to the power requirements of the city. <br /><br />Also, roof top solar plants have been installed at Kudal, Sawantwadi and Udupi stations. A wind and solar hybrid renewable energy system has also been set up at level crossing (LC) gates and stations.<br /><br />Unique energy-saving LED lights suitable for tunnels have been developed by Konkan Railway and all 66 Konkan tunnels have been provided with these LED lights.<br />In an attempt to reduce air pollution, ‘tunnel ventilation systems’ have been installed in seven long tunnels along the Konkan Railway route.<br /><br />Konkan Railway has also displayed high sense of responsibility and commitment towards the protection of environment by planting trees in the Konkan Region, which is an ongoing activity – over 40,000 trees were planted <br />last year alone, the release said. <br />DH News Service</p>
<p>The Konkan Railway has always been a forerunner in adopting and ensuring eco-friendly initiatives in its working.<br /><br /></p>.<p>It is, for instance, a matter of pride that Konkan Railway is one of the oldest signatories of United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since October 2001. There are 307 participants from India, out of which 28 public sector undertakings and Konkan Railway have the distinction of becoming its members since inception. <br /><br />Some of the initiatives of Konkan Railway for environment conservation is a unique and innovative Roll-On Roll-Off service, which transports road trucks on rail wagons, making it possible to move them through the Western Ghats between Kolad and Suratkal. <br /><br />The Ro-Ro service transported 5 lakh road trucks and saved about 750 lakh litres of fuel since its inception. Apart from huge savings to the economy of the country, it has also resulted in ameliorating traffic congestion on roads and significantly benefited with pollution free environment of the Konkan Region.<br /><br />Introduction of fuel-efficient and environment-friendly DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) services is another step in this direction. The Konkan Railway plans to introduce more DEMU rakes for its passengers trains in the near future.<br /><br />Konkan Railway has also developed an indigenous low cost robust ‘Automatic Coach Washing Plant’ technology for the cleaning of train coaches. This technology utilises 70 per cent less water than its manual cleaning counterpart, with over than 10 million litres of water saved at each plant annually. <br /><br />The effluent treatment plant attached to this facilitates the recycling of consumed water. Rainwater harvesting units at five stations – Kamathe, Ratnagiri, Ukshi, Ankola and Murudeshwar – is another effort to conserve water, which is being adopted by Konkan Railway. All new buildings and installations on KR route will be provided with rainwater harvesting systems in the future.<br /><br />The bio-toilets will be installed at all upcoming restrooms at Konkan Railway stations. In addition, ‘Organic Waste Converters’ that convert biodegradable waste into compost have been installed at Ratnagiri, Madgaon and Karwar stations. Another effort on the energy management front is a 350-kilowatt capacity solar park at Ratnagiri, which caters to the power requirements of the city. <br /><br />Also, roof top solar plants have been installed at Kudal, Sawantwadi and Udupi stations. A wind and solar hybrid renewable energy system has also been set up at level crossing (LC) gates and stations.<br /><br />Unique energy-saving LED lights suitable for tunnels have been developed by Konkan Railway and all 66 Konkan tunnels have been provided with these LED lights.<br />In an attempt to reduce air pollution, ‘tunnel ventilation systems’ have been installed in seven long tunnels along the Konkan Railway route.<br /><br />Konkan Railway has also displayed high sense of responsibility and commitment towards the protection of environment by planting trees in the Konkan Region, which is an ongoing activity – over 40,000 trees were planted <br />last year alone, the release said. <br />DH News Service</p>
