50 small railway stations to be equipped with sensors

Tribune News Service

Ambala, December 31

The Ambala division of the Northern Railways will equip nearly 50 small railway stations with occupancy sensors that will switch off 75 per cent lights when passengers are not around.

A successful trial of the sensor has been done at Mohali and Samrala railway stations in Punjab by the division.

Sunil Kumar, Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer (general), said, “There are several stations where a very few trains make a halt at night and it is a wastage of power by keeping lights on throughout the night. There are 129 railway stations under the division, sensors will be installed in nearly 50 wayside railway stations. These sensors will switch off 75 per cent lights automatically when passengers are not around. Trial has been done and we are satisfied with the results.”

“The initiative has been taken by the division. A sensor costs nearly Rs 2,000 and the total expenditure on this project will be around Rs 1 lakh. The minimum life of a sensor is nearly five years. The initiative is being done to decrease power consumption,” he added.

Besides replacing LED lights in railway stations, lights and fans of all railway establishments, including the service buildings and residential quarters, will also be replaced.

Sunil said, “Of 129 railway stations under the division, 74 have been equipped by 100 per cent LED lights. There are nearly 13,800 quarters and service buildings which will be equipped with LED lights. The current ceiling fans will also be replaced. While all the stations will be covered by March 31, the work in all quarters will be completed by June end.”

He said current air conditioners would be replaced with energy efficient air conditioners.