KHURDA ROAD DIVISION ON MISSION MODE TO ELECTRIFY THE ENTIRE RAIL NETWORK & TO BECOME “NET ZERO” CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2030

• All coaching trains and more than 95% goods trains of the division are running with electric traction.

• Saving of 2,78,250 Tons of Carbon footprints annually with electrification over the Khurda Road division.

• Reduction of annual Diesel bill by about Rs. 814.20 Crores.

19th March 2023 (Odisha Tazanews) Khurda Road :- India has set ambitious goals to reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of clean energy as a first step on the road to low-carbon economic growth. The Indian railways are one of the crucial economic sectors that can significantly boost India’s efforts to meet a “net zero” carbon emissions by 2030. Electrical traction is an environmental friendly, pollution-free and energy efficient mode of transport and offer an excellent alternative to fossil fuels as a source of energy.Adding momentum to the Indian Railway’s target for Net zero Carbon emission, the Electrification works in Khurda Road division of East coast Railway, had started in July 1998 from Palasa end. The Khurda road division is the Sun rise division of East Coast Railway, that falls in the Howrah-Chennai Trunk route. Daily the division is handling with 159 nos of coaching trains and 307 nos of goods trains on an average basis. It serves three major ports i.e Paradeep, Dhamara, Gopalpur, Coal mines, Iron ore mines and a number of Steel plants. Khurda Road division is one of the top three loading divisions of Indian Railways. The major sections of the division are Bhadrak-Khurda Road, Khurda Road-Palasa, Khurda Road-Puri, Khurda Road-Nuagaon, Cuttack-Paradeep, Barang-Rajathagarh, Nirgundi-Talcher-Kerjenga, Jakhpura- Jaroli etc. The Electrification of the Khurda Road division was completed in the year 2012. The electrification work completed for 1141 Route Kilo Metre and 3160 Track Kilo Metre. All coaching trains and more than 95% goods trains over the Khurda Road division are running with electric traction. All the sidings have also been electrified in the division. As a part of 100% electrification of the division, 19 Traction sub stations were established, which feed 25 KV power supply to the Over Head Equipment (OHE).There are 20 Tower wagons for the maintenance of the OHE. Staff to Asset ratio of the division is one of the lowest over Indian Railways. Sri Rinkesh Roy, Divisional Railway Manager said that, due to the 100% electrification, the KhurdaRoad division could able to save 2,78,250 Tons carbon foot prints and reduction of annual Diesel bill of about Rs Rs. 814.204 Crores. The Khurda Road division has initiated a number of system improvements and innovative ideas for the reliability of Over Head Equipments such as Hotline insulator cleaning without power block, Crane Mounted truck for quick restoration of OHE break downs, Regular painting of insulators to prevent OHE tripping, Provision of disconnector assembles in order to prevent OHE breakdown due to lightning , Contact wire height has been raised at Loading/unloading areas.Porcelain insulators have been replaced with Composite insulators, to avoid OHE tripping in polluted and saline areas and OHE has been extended at Loading platforms to accommodate 61 wagons without forward & backward movement of rake. Further, the division is also focusing on alternative energy resources for environment friendly modes by installing solar panels at various Railway stations and service buildings.