New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS): Considering the growing popularity and demand for Metro services, the government has now proposed assisting such projects in towns and cities with a population of 10 lakh, Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said Monday.
"Until now, we have been taking up only cities of about 20 lakh, but from now we are planning to take up 10 lakh also," the minister said at the inauguration of the first rooftop solar power plant at a Delhi Metro station.
The solar plant, located at the Dwarka Sector 21 station, was inaugurated by Naidu along with Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal from the Metro Bhavan in central Delhi's Barakhamba Road area.
The lights of a platform - that uses solar power generated by the plant were switched on by remote.
"This initiative of solar power generation to meet Delhi Metro's part requirement of power is an all out effort to promote renewable energy resources.
"The need of the hour is to promote renewable energy because 80 percent of our fossil fuel energy needs are being met through imports... this is not a happy situation and we cannot continue it for long," Naidu said.
He said that despite having 365 days of sun, India has not been able to utilise it in a proper manner.
There was an imperative need to promote renewable energy, increase power generation and become energy sufficient, the minister said.
Agreed Goyal, who said the government's mission was to fast-track the development of renewables and show the world that India can become its "renewable capital".
The units generated by the 500 kwp plant will be used for meeting the power requirements at the station.
The plant is the result of cooperation between Delhi Metro and German government-owned not-for-profit enterprise GIZ.
The Delhi Metro will be installing five more such solar power generating rooftop plants in future at the Yamuna Bank Metro station, Yamuna Bank depot, Anand Vihar Metro station, Pragati Maidan Metro station and the Metro residential complex at Pushp Vihar.