Environment Sustainability Report, 2019

Indian Railways Environment Management has a vision to promote Green environment and clean energy while making the Indian Railways a global leader in sustainable mass transport solutions. In this regard Railway ministry releases environment sustainability report annually.

• For Indian railways to become a low carbon mass transport system, in January 2015, the government set up the Environment Directorate in the Railway Board, to coordinate all environment management initiatives across the Indian Railways.
• The Railways has taken steps to streamline its initiatives with regard to environmental management, with some notable initiatives including Energy Efficiency, Renewable and Alternate Sources of Energy, Water Conservation, Afforestation, Waste Management and Green Certifications etc.
• Railway’s role for combating climate change includes-
  • Reducing emission intensity by 33% up to 2029-30 over 2004-05.
  • It has aim to enhance the share of the Railways in the overall land based freight transport from the present 36% to 45% by the year 2030.
  • This first phase of the Dedicated Freight Corridor project alone is estimated to reduce emissions by about 457 million ton CO₂ over a 30 year period.
  • Railways to further improve its energy efficiency for both diesel and electric traction thereby facilitating the reduction of GHG emissions for the country.
  • PAT Scheme to be implemented in railway sector.
  • Use of 5% blending of biofuels in traction diesel fuel.
  • Improvement in water use efficiency by 20% up to 2030.
  • Adopting the good practices on Green Buildings, Industrial Units and other establishments for the management of resources and infrastructure to achieve Environmental Sustainability in growth of IR.
  • Role in ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’.