Varanasi Lights The Way With India’s First Trackside Solar Panels

In a pivotal move towards sustainability, Varanasi has made history by becoming the first city in India to install removable solar panels between railway tracks. The Ministry of Railways unveiled the pilot project at Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), calling it a step towards the Railways’ ambitious target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Officials say the project is not just innovative but also practical. By making use of the otherwise-unused gaps between tracks, the initiative shows how clean energy can be generated without acquiring additional land, a challenge that has often slowed down renewable projects across the country.

A First Of Its Kind Project

The Ministry of Railways highlighted the achievement in a post on X (formerly Twitter), noting: “Banaras Locomotive Works, Varanasi commissioned India’s first 70m removable solar panel system (28 panels, 15KWp) between railway tracks—a step towards green and sustainable rail transport.”

Additionally, the panels were indigenously designed and developed by local engineers, making the project not only a green initiative but also a boost for homegrown innovation.

The pilot installation covers a 70-metre stretch inside BLW, fitted with 28 solar panels delivering a total capacity of 15 KWp. Unlike traditional solar plants, this system is designed to be removable, allowing railway workers to carry out routine maintenance or adapt the setup seasonally. Importantly, the panels have been laid in such a way that they do not interfere with train movement, ensuring uninterrupted operations.

A Huge Power Potential

Early assessments suggest that if expanded, the model has the potential to generate 3.21 lakh units (kWh) of electricity per kilometre every year. To put this into perspective, this energy could be used to power essential railway operations such as station lighting, signalling systems, or even be supplied back to the grid.

With the Indian Railways operating across 1.2 lakh kilometres of track, the long-term possibilities are enormous. Officials estimate that yard lines and underutilised track spaces could be transformed into productive zones for solar power, significantly reducing the organisation’s dependency on conventional energy.

A Cleaner Future Ahead

The project forms part of Indian Railways’ larger clean energy roadmap. Over the last few years, the organisation has installed rooftop solar plants at stations and depots, while also investing in large-scale renewable projects across different states.

Another major milestone came recently when Western Railway commissioned India’s first 2×25 kV electric traction system on the Nagda–Khachrod section of Ratlam Division. Powered by two Scott-connected 100 MVA transformers, the system further advances the Railways’ green agenda by promising a more efficient electricity delivery for trains.

Railways remains one of India’s largest consumers of both electricity and diesel. By exploring innovative solutions like solar panels between tracks, the network can reduce energy costs and lower its carbon footprint while making better use of existing infrastructure.

The BLW solar track system, developed by local engineers, is being closely watched as a potential game-changer. If scaled successfully, it could transform India’s transport sector into a more sustainable model, helping the country meet its renewable energy and climate goals while setting an example for railways worldwide. As trains continue to be the lifeline of India, Varanasi’s new solar-powered tracks symbolise not just a technical innovation, but also a vision of greener journeys for the future.

(With inputs from various sources.)