SUSTAINABLE & GREEN MOBILITY

GREEN INITIATIVE OF METRO CORPORATIONS & INDIAN RAILWAY

Abstract

Rail-based transport is the most environment-friendly mass transport system due to the inherent gains it provides in terms of energy efficiency and resource optimisation. Railways are about 12 times more efficient in freight traffic and 3 times more efficient in passenger traffic as compared to road transport. As the Indian economy transitions, with economic growth and sustainable development as twin goals, mobility will play a key role. It has been estimated that for the sustainable development of Indian Economy, the inter-modal share of freight traffic by rail should go up from the current share of 36% to 45% by 2030. Accordingly, Indian Railways is gearing up for a massive growth to achieve such increase in inter-modal share by augmentation of its network and rolling stock fleet along with increase in productivity.

For IR and metro systems in the country to be a low carbon mass transport system working for a green environment, an integrated approach, which includes resource efficiency at its core, hence, would be critical. As the country’s lifeline, the national transporter, in January 2015, set up the Environment Directorate in the Railway Board, to coordinate all environment management initiatives across the Indian Railways. Since then, the Railways along with the metro systems being developed in the country have taken steps to streamline their efforts with regards to environmental management, with some notable initiatives including Energy Efficiency, Renewable and Alternate sources of Energy, Water Conservation, Afforestation, Waste Management and Green Certifications.