Saralnama
The Ministry of Railways announced on August 18 that Banaras Locomotive Works in Varanasi has commissioned India's first removable solar panel system installed between railway tracks. The system consists of 28 panels with a capacity of 15KWp, marking a step toward green and sustainable rail transport. Additionally, Indian Railways flagged off the first industrial salt-loaded rake from Sanosara (Bhuj-Naliya section) to Dahej, which will support the regional salt industry and generate freight earnings. The Ahmedabad Division Railway Manager reported that the rake carried 3,851.2 tonnes of industrial salt over 673.57 km, generating Rs 31.69 lakh. Furthermore, Western Railway commissioned the first 2×25 kV Electric Traction System at the Nagda-Khachrod section under the Ratlam Division, featuring two Scott-connected 100 MVA power transformers for efficient electrical load feeding. This system is the first of its kind in India, using Scott technology for transformer energisation. These developments reflect Indian Railways' ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability and freight logistics infrastructure. (Updated 20 Aug 2025, 19:16 IST; source: link)