India’s urban transportation landscape just witnessed a groundbreaking innovation. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has successfully installed the country’s first solar-on-track system at the Namo Bharat Depot in Duhai, marking a historic moment for sustainable public transport infrastructure.
This pioneering initiative isn’t just another solar installation—it’s a testament to how creative engineering can transform underutilized spaces into powerful clean energy generators. Let me walk you through what makes this project truly revolutionary and why it matters for India’s green energy future.
What Exactly is the Solar-On-Track System?
Imagine converting the space directly on train tracks—areas typically left unused—into productive solar power plants. That’s precisely what NCRTC has achieved at Duhai depot. The pilot installation spans a 70-meter stretch on the Pit Wheel Track, featuring 28 high-capacity solar panels, each rated at 550 Wp.
With a combined plant capacity of 15.4 kWp, this innovative setup is expected to generate approximately 17,500 kWh of clean electricity every year. To put this in perspective, that’s enough power to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 16 tonnes annually—equivalent to planting roughly 730 trees or taking three cars off the road for an entire year.
What strikes me most about this installation is its clever use of space. Instead of requiring additional land or rooftop area, the system maximizes existing infrastructure. It’s a brilliant example of thinking differently about renewable energy integration in urban environments where space comes at a premium.
Why This Matters for India’s Transit Systems
This isn’t the first time solar panels have been used in metro systems—we’ve seen rooftop installations before. However, installing solar technology directly on train tracks in a Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) or metro network is unprecedented in India.
The significance extends beyond just being “first.” This project demonstrates that rapid transit systems can become active contributors to renewable energy generation rather than just consumers. Every metre of track, every station roof, and every available surface becomes an opportunity to generate clean power.
For commuters, this translates to more sustainable travel. For the environment, it means reduced dependence on fossil fuels. For India’s transit planners, it opens up an entirely new playbook for designing eco-friendly transportation networks.
NCRTC’s Ambitious Renewable Energy Blueprint
The solar-on-track system is just one piece of NCRTC’s comprehensive sustainability puzzle. The organization has set an ambitious target: sourcing approximately 70% of its total energy requirements from renewable sources.
Their roadmap includes developing 15 MW of peak solar power generation capacity through installations across station rooftops, depot buildings, and administrative facilities along the Namo Bharat corridor. As of now, about 5.5 MW of solar capacity is already operational and powering various infrastructure components.
These aren’t just impressive numbers on paper—they represent a genuine commitment to achieving net-zero energy consumption across all NCRTC facilities. This aligns perfectly with India’s National Solar Mission and demonstrates how public transport agencies can lead the charge in climate action.
Beyond Solar: A Holistic Green Approach
What I find particularly commendable is that NCRTC’s environmental efforts don’t stop at solar power. The organization has implemented a comprehensive ecosystem of sustainable practices:
Rainwater Harvesting Systems: These installations capture and conserve precious water resources, reducing dependence on external water supplies while replenishing groundwater tables.
Sewage Treatment Plants: Responsible wastewater management ensures that operations don’t contribute to water pollution, treating and reusing water wherever possible.
Regenerative Braking Technology: This is where innovation gets really exciting. The Namo Bharat trains use regenerative braking systems that convert kinetic energy during deceleration back into electrical energy. Instead of wasting energy as heat when trains slow down, this system captures it and feeds it back into the power grid. It’s like having a built-in energy recovery mechanism with every journey.
Together, these initiatives create a truly sustainable transit ecosystem that addresses energy, water, and operational efficiency simultaneously.
Global Support for Local Innovation
The solar-on-track project hasn’t happened in isolation. International institutions including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), New Development Bank (NDB), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have supported this initiative, highlighting the global significance of India’s clean transit efforts.
This collaboration also involves key government stakeholders—the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and the Delhi Government—all working together to deliver next-generation, climate-friendly mobility solutions.
Such partnerships are crucial. They bring together technical expertise, financial resources, and policy support needed to scale innovative solutions like solar-on-track systems across India’s rapidly expanding metro networks.
What This Means for Future Metro Projects
The success of the Duhai depot installation sets an important precedent. As metro and RRTS networks expand across Indian cities—from Mumbai and Bangalore to Ahmedabad and Kolkata—the solar-on-track model offers a replicable template for sustainable infrastructure development.
Urban planners and transit authorities now have concrete evidence that integrating renewable energy into transit infrastructure isn’t just feasible—it’s practical and effective. The 70-meter pilot at Duhai could evolve into kilometers of solar-equipped tracks across India’s metro networks.
Future installations could potentially scale up capacity, experiment with more efficient panel technologies, and even explore integration with battery storage systems for round-the-clock clean energy availability.
Final thoughts
NCRTC’s solar-on-track system represents more than technological innovation—it embodies a fundamental shift in how we think about urban infrastructure. Every element of our transit systems can serve multiple purposes: moving people efficiently while generating clean energy, managing resources responsibly, and minimizing environmental impact.
As India accelerates toward its renewable energy goals and climate commitments, initiatives like this prove that sustainable development and modern infrastructure can go hand in hand. The Duhai depot installation isn’t just lighting up train facilities—it’s illuminating a path forward for green transit systems nationwide.
For everyday commuters, this means traveling on networks that actively contribute to a cleaner environment. For India, it means taking concrete steps toward energy independence and climate resilience. And for the global community, it showcases how emerging economies can lead innovation in sustainable urban transport.
The solar-on-track system at Namo Bharat Depot in Duhai isn’t just India’s first—it’s a blueprint for the future of sustainable mobility. As these gleaming panels harness sunlight above the tracks, they’re also powering something bigger: hope for a greener, cleaner transportation future.