NCRTC Partners with SECI to Use Renewable Energy in Delhi-Meerut Corridor

In an effort to promote India’s sustainability development goals (SDGs), thus encouraging the use of renewable energy in the transportation sector the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) have signed a Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) to harness blended renewable energy for Delhi-Meerut RRTS (Regional rapid transit system) corridor. 

According to the agreement between both organizations, NCRTC a joint venture company of the Government of India and participating states (NCT of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh), will explore possible opportunities in electric/transformative mobility, Hydrogen based economy, and other alternative sources of clean/green fuels and energy. Also, This cooperation is a part of NCRTC’s long-term strategy to make RRTS and NCRTC financially as well as environmentally sustainable. 

According to an official release “NCRTC, as part of its Energy Management Policy, intends to maximize the use of blended renewable energy such as solar power, etc. For meeting the full energy requirement of NCRTC. SECI, being an industry leader, will help in arranging blended renewable energy to NCRTC round the clock at affordable rates for Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor and cooperation to extend the same for other future corridors,” said in a statement.

This collaboration through the use of renewables will ensure a reduction in investment in electricity and significantly lesser CO2 emissions, which is essential for sustainable development. 

NCRTC is adopting some key measures to increase the energy efficiency and use of renewable energy through the process of completion of the corridor:

NCRTC is planning to install solar panels at all elevated RRTS stations and depots through which the organization is targeting to generate a minimum of 10 MW renewable energy. This in turn along with other measures, is expected to provide 40 percent of the total energy requirement of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor. 

As, back in March 2021, NCRTC has issued the tender for the commissioning of 11 MW rooftop solar PV projects and associated support structure works on RESCO Model on stations, depots, and other buildings along the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor of NCRTC.

This 82.15 km Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor is India’s first RRTS corridor which will connect National Capital Delhi to Meerut with 16 RRTS stations. Notably and all of them and their premises, depot, office spaces, and trains will be furnished with energy-saving LED lights. Additionally, many small yet important steps will be taken into consideration

The construction of the corridor is running at a speedy pace with the first priority stretch (38.05 km) between Sahibabad and Meerut South is expected to open in January 2023. Notably, Rs 30,274 crores are the total estimated cost of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS project.