Nagpur Metro installs India’s first between-track solar plant at Hingna depot in PPP mode

Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro) has installed a 50-kilowatt peak (kWp) solar photovoltaic (PV) system between rail tracks at its Hingna depot in Nagpur, marking the first such initiative by any metro rail system in India, the Economic Times reported.
The pilot project has been implemented along a 200-metre stretch within the depot, making use of otherwise idle space between operational tracks. The system is expected to generate approximately 70,000 units of green energy annually and is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by nearly 65 tonnes each year.

The project was executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement, with no initial capital investment from MahaMetro. The installation uses monocrystalline, half-cut solar PV panels supplied and implemented by M/s Greenlife Solutions Pvt Ltd. The power generated will be used entirely for captive consumption at the facility, with no net metering mechanism in place.

Given its placement within an active track environment, the project required careful engineering and safety planning. Key considerations included managing vibrations caused by passing trains, ensuring unhindered access for periodic track maintenance, and maintaining clearances with overhead equipment (OHE) lines.

An official spokesperson said the initiative reflects MahaMetro’s long-standing commitment to sustainable development. “Through this pilot solar PV project of 50kWp between rail tracks, MahaMetro is exploring options to meet the maximum of its energy requirement from renewable sources for eco-friendly development,” the spokesperson said.

The project is currently being evaluated as a pilot, and its performance will determine the scope of future expansion. Based on the outcome, the system is likely to be scaled up at both the Hingna and Mihan depots, and gradually extended across stations and other Metro facilities. Officials noted that while the current project is modest in scale, it demonstrates a new approach to integrating renewable energy infrastructure within existing transit systems without requiring additional land acquisition.