National Energy Conservation Day is celebrated annually across the country on 14th of December. In view of this, Energy Conservation Week was observed over Western Railway from 08th to 14th December, 2024 with an aim to spread awareness of energy conservation and measures taken by WR to implement the same.

According to a press release issued by Western Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek, WR continued its winning streak at the prestigious National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2024 conducted by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Govt. of India. Western Railway’s Rajkot Division received the Certificate of Recognition in the Transport Sector for the project ‘Automation of Undergear Lights’. The award was given by Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri. Jagdeep Dhankar and Hon’ble Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Shripad Naik in a glittering function held by Ministry of Power, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 14th December, 2024. The award was received by Smt. Rajani Yadav, Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer/Rajkot Division on behalf of Western Railway.

Giving details of this novel project, Vineet informed that the project intends to harness hidden opportunities of energy conservation in pit lines of coaching depots over Indian Railways by roping in Ultrasonic technology. With the implementation of this technology, energy savings of approx. 504 KWH per month (6048 KWH per annum) can be achieved for 1 pit line.

Vineet further informed that during the week-long event, various awareness programs like seminars, printouts, pamphlets, caller tune, public announcements in stations, banners, etc were carried out at Headquarters as well as across all six divisions of Western Railway. In this connection, a seminar was also organised at WR Headquarters, Churchgate on 16th December, 2024, which was attended by Principal Head of Departments, Divisional Railway Manager - Mumbai Central and senior officers of HQ, while the DRM’s of other Divisions were present through Video Conferencing. For meritorious work in the area of Energy Conservation for the year 2023-24, 15 Railway Officials were given awards. On this occasion, Ashok Kumar Misra – General Manager of Western Railway also released a booklet compiling the various measures & initiatives taken by WR in the field of energy conservation during the current financial year.