Varanasi becomes India’s first city to get portable solar panels between railway tracks

 Varanasi becomes India’s first city to get portable solar panels between railway tracks

Indian Railways Green Energy Initiatives: To move closer to its net-zero emission goal, Indian Railways (IR) is rapidly adopting solar energy as part of its strategy towards a greener and more sustainable transport network.

Written by Anish Mondal

Updated: August 19, 2025 12:40 AM IS

Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi has commissioned India's first removable solar panel system installed between railway track.

Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi has commissioned India's first removable solar panel system installed between railway track. (Image: Ministry of Railways)

Indian Railways Green Initiatives: To move closer to its net-zero emission goal, Indian Railways (IR) is rapidly adopting solar energy as part of its strategy towards a greener and more sustainable transport network. As part of the initiatives, Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi has become the country’s first city to have portable solar panels between railway tracks.

Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi has commissioned India’s first removable solar panel system installed between railway track.

short article insertSharing a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ministry of Railways said: “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.”

BLW has rolled out this pilot project in its workshop line number 19 with an indigenously-designed installation procedure to lay solar panels between the rails without disrupting train traffic. “These solar panels are not only durable and efficient but also removable allowing for maintenance and seasonal adaptation,” the railways said in a statement.

Solar Panel Installation Between Tracks in Varanasi: Technical Details (Project)

Length of Track 70m

Capacity of Installed Solar Plant 15 KWp

No. of Solar Panel 28

Power density 240 KWp/KM

Energy density 960 unit/KM/Day

Source: Indian Railways

Solar Panel Installation Between Tracks in Varanasi: Technical Details (Solar Panels)

Length 2278 mm

Width 1133 mm

Height 30 mm

Weight 31.83 Kg

Junction box IP 68

Cable connection 300 mm length cable MC4 compatible connection

Maximum system voltage 1500 v

Application class Class A (Safety class II)

Cells 144 half cut mono crystalline P type PERC bifacial collar cells multi bus bar

Encapsulation High volume resistivity and low MVTR

Substrate Transparent

Frame Anodized Frame

Source: Indian Railways

Solar Panel Installation Between Tracks in Varanasi: Technical Details (Electrical Data)

Parameter Value

Wp (watt) 602

Voltage (mp) (volt) 41.78

Current (mp)(amp) 13.24

Open circuit voltage (Voc) (volt) 49.71

ISc (amp) 15.16

Module efficiency (%) 20.15

Source: Indian Railways

Indian Railways has track length of 1.2 lakh km. The railways can utilised the yard lines for installation of solar panels between the tracks. “In this scheme, no land acquisition is required as space between tracks are utilized for solar panels. This scheme has potential of 3.50 lakh units/year/KM,” it said in a statement.