Ever since the inception of EnHM wing in 2016, Central Railway is on a continuous task of pursuing environmental initiatives to foster a greener and sustainable future by constituting energy efficiency measures, reducing fossil fuels, reducing fresh water consumption and by and large creating green pastures to combat pollution and make the environment clean.
CR figuring with 87 Eco-smart stations, being the highest on Indian Railways has been tremendously progressing and is going an extra mile to keep up with the the norms laid down by Hon’ble National Green Tribunal(NGT).
1.Energy conservation initiatives:4077.5 KWp solar installations have been done during the year 2023-24 across different locations of Central Railway. Showing its commitments to achieving net zero emissions Bhusawal Division proudly hoists its stature by becoming the first division on Central Railway as well in the state of Maharashtra to get awarded Net Zero Energy Building title from The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Govt of India in October 2023.
a)Zonal Railway Training Institute Bhusaval received BEE’s Shunya Plus label
b)Zonal Railway Training Institute Bhusaval received BEE’s Shunya label
These two buildings also rank 7th amongst Indian Railway Buildings to achieve the Net Zero Energy Building Plus(NZEB Plus) and Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) award.Both these buildings with the use of reduced energy consumption appliances without compromising on the output and at the same time adhering to cost saving factor have gone a long way in their environmental sustainability efforts.
2.Water conservation measures :
Rain water harvesting units : Bhusaval Rain water Harvesting(RWH)-07 Locations (1)LC-23(Chalisgaon- Dhulia section), (2)LC-29(Bhusaval- Badnera section), (3) LC-31(Bhusaval-Badnera section), (4) LC-23(Jalambh-Nandura Section), (5) LC-29(Shegaon- Nazgri section),(6)LC-31(Nazgri-Paras Section), (7) LC-23(Dhulia Yard), Solapur RWH-05 Barsi Town, Yedshi, Dokhi,Osmanabd & JH TOTAL -12
Water audit done : BSL 08 Location ( Burhanpur, Khandwa, Murtijapur, Pachora, Amravati, Badnera, Jalgaon, Malkapur)
Flush free and odourless urinals Fresh water consumption has reduced drastically with 14 gents urinals in the main waiting hall at CSMT Mumbai being converted into flush free and odourless urinals.
3.ISO-14001:2015 Certification: Central Railway has been on the move to achieve quality output in its services. This has led the zone to progress and obtain improvement with respect to efficiency in administration, safety and environmental sustainability goals. Thus ISO-14001: 2015 has already been obtained for 76 Eco-smart stations.And in the Year 2023, 6 stations viz. Nagpur, Wardha, Sewagram, Ballarshah, Betul and Chandrapur stations of Nagpur Division have obtained renewal.
Renewal of ISO-14001:2015 Certification obtained for 6 stations in Nagpur division: Nagpur, Wardha, Sewagram, Ballarshah, Betul and Chandrapur
4.CTO (Consent to Operate):To conduct various operations under the purview of Pollution Control Board with respect to water and air quality Central Railway has in the Year 2023 obtained renewal of CTO for 21 of its stations in the Year ending 2023-24 as follows Ulhasnagar, Thane, Vithalwadi, Bhandup,Kanjurmarg,Mulund,Vikhroli,Nahur,Chembur,Mankhurd,TilakNagar,Chinchpokli,Dadar,Matunga, Sion and Ambernath(12 stations on Mumbai Division);Bhusaval, Chalisgaon, Nasik Road, Shegaon, Manmad and Jalgaon(6 stations of Bhusaval Division);Nagpur and Sewagram(2 stations in Nagpur Division) and Latur(1 station of Solapur Division).
5.Composting :
Pune Composing Plant: Composting Plant with organic waste processing capacity of 1000 kg per day has been commissioned at Pune station under CSR funding by ICICI Bank which functions on a low power consumption and using sound vermin culture as against the traditional composting method.
Vermi Composting at Matunga workshop:
Dumping of waste collected is minimized by going to landfills at Matunga Workshop. The leaves, shrubs, twigs from the workshop premises are segregated from other non bio-degradable waste and are then shredded in a shredder machine. They are then put in the Vermin composting plant. Also food wastes, vegetable and fruit peels ate put in the vermin compost unit to get an organic compost that again is used for accelerated and desirable growth of plants in the gardens maintained around. This has reduced unscientific dumping of waste and eliminated open burning of waste again curbing pollution in the air around.
6.Cleanliness & Sanitation :“Woloo Women’s powder Room”- a world class hygienic & safe aspirational toilet first of its kind in Indian Railways was launched at Mulund station under the aegis of M/s. Loom & Weaver Retail Pvt.Ltd.This along with 6 more such toilets is expected to fetch a non-fare revenue of ₹39.48 lakh per annum for 5 years for the railways.
7. Waste Management initiatives for Awareness:In a move to bring about awareness on segregation of waste Mumbai Division has displayed a board of waste segregation around 33 twin dustbin areas at CSMT Mumbai.The board reads,“I pledge to segregate dry waste and wet waste” making an emphasis on Community effort amongst the staff and public.
8. Adopting 3 R’s(Reduce, Recycle & Reuse) of Environment:
Condemned coach that utilize space and also get rusted on account of under utility or no utility has been well made use of in Pune Diesel shed.GS coach CR96415 has been fabricated into a beautiful staff canteen at Pune Diesel shed through in-house efforts of the staff. Empty barrels in the shed serve as furniture for the canteen.
9. Afforestation:
(a) 1, 23,338 saplings across 109.45 hectares of Central Railway Land for 2023-24
(b) Miyawaki Plantations in 2023
| Sr.No. | Period | Division | Location | No.of Saplings planted |
| 1 | June 2023 | Solapur | Across the pathway of Divisional Engineering Training Centre, Solapur | 1800 saplings |
| 2 | July 2023 | Solapur | At railway colony near TRD office in Ahmednagar | 1200 saplings |
| 3 | November 2023 | Bhusaval | At Zonal Railway Training school, Bhusaval | 1000 saplings |
(c)Plantation of around 30,000 bouganvillas has been done so far across vacant railway land between CSMT and Dadar stations in Mumbai Division under an MOU signed between BPCL and Mumbai Division.
(d) 751 saplings in just 1 minute in the discarded scrap drums of bio-digester on 05.06.2023 on the occasion of World Environment Day.
10. Other Initiatives :All important events like World Environment Day, Swachhata Pakhwada , World Heritage Day was observed with dedication and exaltation by all divisions, workshops and depots to convey and spread the message of Cleanliness, participation , environmental and heritage awareness amongst the stake holders.
Bhusaval Station Mahotsav was organized in VIP siding of Bhusaval station where essay, speech and drawing competition was organized for students. Besides exhibits on Bhusaval station Heritage was displayed along with a colourful cultural programme witnessed by staff, school children, parents and public.
Solapur Station Mahotsav saw participation of Kendriya Vidyalaya students, reputed ortho surgeon of Metan hospital of Solapur, Cultural team of Pandharpur taluka, blood bank official and staff of HDFC bank. Various artefacts were displayed for heritage awareness of Solapur station.
