Ministry of Railways has decided to make all railway stations 100 percent LED lit by the end of
31st March 2018. It is a huge initiative to provide energy efficient lighting which will eventually
greatly help in the conservation of environment as well it said in a statement by the
Ministry. LED or light-emitting diode bulbs are more energy efficient and have a longer lifespan
than traditional lamps.Until November 2017, about 3,500 railway stations had already been
provided with cent per cent LED lights. About 20 lakh such lights were installed.
The initiative will reduce consumption by about 10% of the total energy being utilised for its
non-traction uses, conserving about 240 million units of electricity, which will save the Railways
about Rs 180 crore annually, it said.The Railways has also issued directives to Zonal Railways
to provide LED light fittings to residential quarters.Zonal Railways had distributed about 20 lakh
LED lights to railway staff till October 2017, under the governments Domestic Efficient Lighting
Programme (DELP) Scheme.
The national transporter also aims at providing these lights on all coaches/EMUs. Already, the
lights in 1300 non-AC second-class and 3-tier sleeper coaches have been fully converted to
LED. Till November 2017, about 3,500 railway stations have been provided with 100 per cent LED
lights and work on the rest will be completed by the March deadline, it said.
So far, about 20 lakh LED lights at stations have been replaced across various Zonal Railways
under this programme. To take ahead provision of LED lights at all stations, ESCO mode in this area is also being pursued. A policy directive in this reference has been formulated and issued by the Ministry it said.
The Railways said that 100 per cent LED lighting would reduce consumption by about 10 per
cent of total energy being utilized for its non-traction uses, thus leading to savings of about 240
million units of electricity, which will save about Rs 180 crore annually.
It said that in 2016-17, 5.5 per cent reduction was achieved in non-traction energy consumption,
leading to a 4.1 per cent reduction in energy consumption despite a 1.4 per cent increase in
load thus enabling savings of Rs 100 crore.
"In the current year (six months from April to September 2017), a 7 per cent reduction in non-
traction energy consumption had already been achieved giving savings of Rs 62 crore it said,
adding that was, in fact, a quantum jump against the earlier average of two per cent and
transformed Energy Saving Pattern for the Railways. The Railways also said that it is aiming to provide energy efficient LED lights on all railway coaches and EMUs as well. A policy for use of only LED lights in all railway coaches has already been issued and zonal railways are preparing action plan.
