Green Railway Budget

Budget takes on greenish hue
...The Railway Budget had a greenish hue as the Railway Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, announced a slew of measures to reduce the carbon footprint.The Railways proposes to install a GPS-based optimised driver guidance system on diesel locomotives, which will reduce fuel consumption by 8-10 per cent. "We will work closely with the Prime Minister's National Action Plan on Climate Change and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency," said Ms Banerjee.
Transportation is one of key areas that India will focus on, as the recently established expert committee under former Planning Commission member Mr Kirit Parikh charts a road map to lower the country's carbon emissions.There was a proposal to set up 10 Rail Eco-parks to conserve, protect and promote Railways' wetland and forest areas, Ms Banerjee said. An eco-park in Naopara, West Bengal, was recently inaugurated. Ms Banerjee said that the Railways also proposed to introduce at least 10 rakes with green toilets.It has already distributed 2.6 million compact fluorescent lamps as part of its initiatives to tackle climate change.

HINDU BUSINESS line NEWSPAPER. Bureau...New Delhi, Feb. 24