India’s First Solar Powered Miniature Train Launched in Kerala.

India’s first solar energy powered miniature train was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on November 2, 2020. It has been inaugurated at the Veli Tourist Village in Kerala.

Highlights

• The train was part of a string of projects and around Rs, 60 crores were taken up in order to elevate the facilities at the panoramic destination to international standards.
• On the same day, the Chief Minister also dedicated an “Urban Park” and a swimming pool at the eco-friendly tourist village.
• The tourist village is located on the outskirts where the Veli Lake meets up with the Arabian Sea.
  
  

The miniature rail

The miniature rail comprises of all the features that a fully- equipped rail system had. It includes a tunnel, station, and a ticket office. It has three bogies which can accommodate around 45 people at a time. The train is eco-friendly and solar-powered. The 2.5 km miniature railway will enable visitors to enjoy the beauty of nature. The total cost of this first of its kind project in India is Rs ten crore.  The train will generate solar energy. The surplus energy generated by the system will be transferred to the Kerala State Electricity Board’s grid.

Solar-powered Train in India

Indian Railways had launched its first solar-powered DEMU (diesel electrical multiple units) trains from the Safdarjung railway station in Delhi on July 14, 2017. The train ran from Sarai Rohilla in Delhi to Farukh Nagar in Haryana. The train had a total of 16 solar panels producing 300 Wp. The solar panels were manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. This was the first time in the world that solar panels were used as a grid in railways.