To continuously explore emerging and leading technologies in areas of Alternate Fuels, Energy Saving, Emission Control, Environment Friendly usage of Energy and advise Indian Railways to adopt the most effective and responsible energy policies. IROAF will also develop an Emission Standard for rail vehicles, benchmarked o­n the leading entities of the world.

 Introduction

New technologies are emerging continuously all over the world in these areas. There is a need to create a mechanism so that these become known to the policy makers of Indian Railways o­n a real time basis. There is also a need to adapt these to suit the needs of IR, develop low-cost indigenous equivalents, motivate Indian Industry to participate and most importantly, to create standards for nationwide implementation.

Government of India’s Policy

The Government of India has already created stringent standards for emission control for road vehicles. Similar standards need to be developed for rail vehicles and implemented over a reasonable time-frame.

Standards of energy efficiencies are continuously being revised to tighter norms.

Indian Railways - Status

Indian Railways have no internal standards for fuel efficiencies of its fuel consuming equipment, such as rail vehicles, industrial furnaces, ovens or other devices.

Similarly, there are no IR standards for emission control for rail vehicles or stationery installations.

Areas that need attention

 ·Fuel Efficiency of Diesel Locomotives

·Emission Control o­n existing fleets of diesel locomotives, generator cars, DMUs, Tower Wagons, Track Machines, Railway-owned DG Sets.

·Pollution due to rolling stock – powered and trailing.

·Creation of a Pollution Control Standard for rail vehicles similar to “Euro” and “Bharat” norms for road vehicles. EPA and UIC standards have been developed in USA and Europe respectively.

·Human waste and bio-mass generate in Railways’ premises need to be handled to reduce sewage and pollution overload o­n the environment, while generating useful fuel gas and/or electricity.

Roadmap 

IROAF will lead the IR in introducing the most energy efficient and eco-friendly technologies in its operations, production and maintenance. IROAF will make available as a single window office information o­n these systems to the entire Indian Railways and other users. IROAF will also develop an emission standard for rail vehicles and industrial equipment and help Indian Railways adapt these.