KRCL says it is making efforts to conserve environment through innovative methods

Konkan Railway Corporation’s Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) service where trucks ride piggy-back on specially designed BRN wagons has transported more than five lakh trucks since the beginning of the service on January 26, 1999, thereby contributing largely for environment conservation, the company said.

On the eve of World Environment Day, KRCL has said that it is making efforts to conserve the environment by adopting various novel methods. A release from KRCL here said that RORO has been able to save over 750 lakh litres of diesel for the nation.

Besides considerable savings to the National economy, RORO has also contributed to the reduction of truck traffic and resultant road congestion. The concept is now being emulated in the Indian Railways.

Saving water

Meanwhile, the Konkan Railway has also been able to save water by developing and adopting a low-cost ‘automatic coach washing plant’ technology for cleaning train coaches. This technology utilises 70 per cent less water compared to manual cleaning system. Konkan Railway has two such plants on its route and each plant saves nearly 10 million litres of water annually.

The Indian Railways is considering adopting this technology too, considering the huge benefits in terms of economy as well savings in water and energy.

KRCL has also taken up rainwater harvesting at Kamathe, Ratnagiri, Ukshi, Ankola and Murdeshwar stations to conserve water. All new buildings and installations on the Konkan Railway would be provided with rain water harvesting systems in future, it said.

The Company has also installed bio toilets in on-fourth of its coaches and at 11 Railway stations across its network. Bio-toilets would be installed at all upcoming restrooms at Konkan Railway stations, the release added.

Compost units

KRCL has also installed organic waste converters that convert bio-degradable waste into compost at Ratnagiri, Madgaon and Karwar stations. A bio-digester has been installed at Ratnagiri station's running room, and the biogas generated is used for cooking in the kitchen. Following the success of this project, more such organic waste converters and bio-digesters are in the pipeline, the release said.