The solar initiative is being implemented under the guidance of DRM Pankaj Tyagi and the leadership of Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer (General) Sanjay Manoriya. The Electrical General Department of Bhopal Division has installed solar power plants at 90 different locations across the division.
The plants have a total installed capacity of approximately 2.9 MW and have been established under the CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) model. Under this arrangement, the Railways makes the capital investment required to install solar plants, enabling it to generate electricity for its own requirements.
The solar installations generated approximately 21 lakh units of electricity during the seven-month period from April to October 2026. This resulted in estimated savings of around ₹105 lakh, equivalent to ₹1.05 crore, for the Railways.
Based on these figures, the estimated average cost of electricity works out to approximately ₹5 per unit. However, the actual savings may vary depending on electricity tariffs and consumption.
Solar power is currently meeting a portion of the electricity requirements of the Bhopal Railway Division. Besides reducing electricity expenditure, the initiative is also helping minimise the environmental impact associated with conventional energy consumption.
Work on installing additional solar power plants is also progressing across the division. Projects with a combined capacity of approximately 1 MW are currently underway. Once completed, these installations will further increase the division's overall solar power generation capacity.
The additional plants are expected to help meet electricity requirements at railway offices and other suitable buildings. The Railways is focusing on utilising available buildings and locations to expand renewable energy generation.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways has received the 'PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award' for its performance in promoting solar energy. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan presented the award to the ministry on November 5, 2026, at the Renewable Energy Summit and Expo held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The award was presented in the category of central ministries and departments that have installed solar energy systems on the highest number of buildings. The occasion also highlighted the progress made by Indian Railways in expanding solar energy installations across the country.
According to the Ministry of Railways, 15,868 suitable railway buildings have been identified nationwide for solar energy installations. Of these, rooftop solar systems have already been installed on 12,495 buildings, accounting for approximately 79 per cent of the identified buildings.
The ministry has installed rooftop solar plants with a combined capacity of 351 MW against a target of 424 MW. It has set March 2027 as the deadline for installing solar systems on the remaining suitable railway buildings.
Solar energy installations are also being expanded across buildings belonging to 77 central ministries and departments under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
A total of 39,135 suitable buildings have been identified for the initiative. Solar systems have already been installed on 25,984 buildings, representing approximately 66 per cent of the identified buildings.
The Ministry of Railways has secured the leading position in this category by installing solar systems on the highest number of buildings. The Railways plans to connect the remaining suitable buildings to solar energy by March 2027.
The solar expansion programme is aimed at reducing electricity expenditure, lowering dependence on conventional energy sources and supporting environmental protection by helping reduce carbon emissions.
With 90 solar installations already operational and additional projects of approximately 1 MW under development, Bhopal Railway Division is expanding its contribution to the Railways' renewable energy programme. The nationwide installation targets and the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award further highlight the ministry's progress towards increasing solar power generation across railway infrastructure.
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