UP: North Central Railway demonstrates drone-based solar panel cleaning at Subedarganj station
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Indian Railways is pushing forward with green tech, showcasing a cool drone demo to clean solar panels at Subedarganj Railway Station in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The North Central Railway (NCR) team ran the live test on September 23, tying right into the bigger Indian Railways Net Zero mission to boost solar energy use.
Senior officials and staff from the Prayagraj division watched as the drone zipped around, spraying water to scrub the panels clean. This drone tech promises to make maintenance faster, cut costs, and amp up solar system performance across the NCR zone. It’s all about eco-friendly upkeep—no harsh chemicals, just a splash of water to keep things sustainable.
The drone itself packs a 10-liter water tank and weighs about 19 kg without it. It has four nozzles for precise cleaning and runs on a satellite/GPS remote control. With a full charge, it flies for around 22 minutes. The team tested it on the station building and platform 1 shelter. They even chatted about tweaks to make the drones even easier for railway crews to handle, focusing on user-friendly designs for real-world solar panel cleaning.
Railway leaders say this step will supercharge solar efficiency, slash expenses, and help build greener operations in the region. It’s a smart move toward sustainable Indian Railways practices.
Shifting gears to festival prep, Vindhyachal Railway Station is gearing up big time for the Shardiya Navratri Mela, running from September 22 to October 6. Station staff have rolled out extra facilities to keep pilgrims moving smoothly during the nine-day event.
They added five unreserved ticket counters and an inquiry center, with reserved counters open in two shifts. Sixteen more staffers will help at the counters, and 18 extras will handle security and other tasks. Hungry travelers? Five food stalls are ready with refreshments.
In the first three days—September 22 to 24—St. John Ambulance Brigade gave basic medical care to 307 pilgrims and bandaged up 10 others. Train service is ramped up too: 18 regular pairs stop there, plus 13 special ones just for the mela crowd.
Pilgrims won’t go thirsty, with drinking water at five spots. Other perks include 15 temporary toilets each for men and women, extra passenger sheds, and a 12-meter-wide foot overbridge for easy crossing. For safety, ambulances, primary health services, civil safety teams, Railway Protection Force, and Government Railway Police will be on duty the whole time.
These upgrades aim to make the Shardiya Navratri pilgrimage hassle-free at Vindhyachal Railway Station, blending tradition with modern pilgrim facilities in Indian Railways.
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