Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has announced the Interim Railway Budget 2014 in a Parliament today.

The role of Indian railways in preserving the environment has been widely acknowledged. Besides energy efficiency of rail transport, initiatives to promote use of renewable and clean energy have been part of our approach.

Railway Energy Management Company has become functional and is working on setting up of windmill plants, solar power plants, with about 40% subsidy from Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. To begin with, 200 railway stations, roof  top of 26 buildings and 2,000 level crossing gates would be covered.

Railways bagged 22 out of 112 awards being given away by the Government in 2013 in the area of energy conservation.

With a view to improving aesthetic ambience along the track close to the approach of major stations, creation of 'Green Curtains' at Agra and Jaipur stations is being undertaken on pilot basis. This will involve construction of RCC boundary wall of appropriate height along the railway boundary up to a suitable distance, landscaping from the track to the wall and within station circulating area, and arrangements for appropriate watch and ward to check open defecation and littering.

Once the pilot projects succeed, Railways intend to invite corporate entities to participate in this programme at other stations through their corporate social responsibility initiatives, besides obtaining support of municipalities and local bodies.

Marking a major development towards cleanliness in the coaches and on railway tracks, a bio-toilet design has been adopted by the railways and the technology has been introduced in about 2,500 coaches. It is proposed to increase the coverage progressively.