Varanasi: Indian Railways has achieved a historic milestone in sustainable transport with the commissioning of India's first removable solar panel system installed between railway tracks at Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi. The innovative project, inaugurated on August 15, 2025, features a 70-meter stretch equipped with 28 solar panels, offering a total peak output of 15kWp.

According to reports, the solar panels are mounted on the concrete sleepers using epoxy adhesive and are designed with rubber pads to withstand vibrations from passing trains. The removable design allows for easy maintenance without disrupting train operations, a key advantage over permanent installations. The initiative is projected to generate around 321,000kWh annually per kilometre if adopted more widely, leveraging the unused space between railway tracks and negating the need for additional land acquisition.

This pioneering setup is a part of Indian Railways' ambitious goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, complementing their existing rooftop solar initiatives and large-scale renewable energy goals. The project was locally developed by BLW engineers, further underlining the capacity of Indian Railways to innovate in eco-friendly infrastructure.