Key Takeaways
- NCRTC has signed a power purchase agreement for a 110 MW solar power plant in Uttar Pradesh.
- The plant aims to meet 60% of the electricity needs for the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor.
- Projected benefits include a 25% reduction in annual electricity costs and lower carbon emissions by 1.77 lakh tonnes annually.
Solar Power Agreement for Namo Bharat Corridor
NCRTC has signed an agreement for a 110 MW solar power plant, which is set to significantly supply the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor with electricity. The project, located in Jaulan, Uttar Pradesh, is expected to meet approximately 60% of the corridor’s electricity needs, and its estimated cost is around Rs 450 crore. Scheduled for commissioning within the next 24 months, the solar plant will deliver power through the Uttar Pradesh state grid to both NCRTC’s substations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
Under the terms of the agreement, NCRTC will purchase electricity at a fixed tariff for the next 25 years, allowing for greater stability in energy costs while minimizing reliance on traditional power sources. Currently, electricity constitutes about 30-35% of the operational costs for the Namo Bharat corridor.
The initiative is designed to help NCRTC reduce its annual electricity expenditures by approximately 25%. Furthermore, the project aims to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions by around 1.77 lakh tonnes each year, while also decreasing other harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide.
The Namo Bharat corridor has recently experienced a surge in passenger traffic, with daily ridership averaging around one lakh. The corridor has surpassed four crore cumulative passenger journeys since its full commissioning in February of this year. On August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan, the corridor recorded its highest daily ridership, exceeding 1.68 lakh passengers.
The agreement was formalized by NCRTC officials, including Managing Director Shalabh Goel, and was signed with NIRL NCRTC Renewables Ltd (NNRL), a joint venture of NCRTC and Neyveli Lignite Corporation’s subsidiary. This renewable energy project is being highlighted as a pioneering effort to integrate sustainable power solutions into the country’s regional rapid transit and metro systems. It may serve as a model for other urban and regional transport networks looking to adopt renewable energy sources.
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