Metro Rail Corporations Lead India’s Push For Sustainable Public Transport

Hyderabad: The 5th International Conference on Green Metro Systems, hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Indian Green Building Council (CII IGBC) in partnership with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), convened policymakers, industry experts, and sustainability leaders to discuss the future of eco-friendly urban transportation.

The conference underscored the role of metro rail corporations in reducing urban pollution, cutting carbon emissions, and integrating green building principles into public transport infrastructure. It featured discussions on energy-efficient metro systems, smart transit solutions, and renewable energy adoption.

The conference saw the launch of India’s first vertical bi-facial solar plant installed on a metro viaduct, along with a 1MW rooftop solar power plant at the Khyber Pass depot. These innovations aim to maximize renewable energy use while minimizing land consumption, further cementing metro rail as a cornerstone of sustainable urban development.

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs & Power Manohar Lal, emphasized India’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and highlighted the metro sector’s role in balancing infrastructure development with environmental conservation. “Urbanization and industrialization have increased pollution, but initiatives like the Delhi Metro demonstrate that thoughtful infrastructure can drive progress while protecting nature,” he said.

Several metro networks, including those in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, and Pune, have received IGBC certification for their commitment to sustainable operations.

Metro stations are increasingly incorporating solar power systems, regenerative braking, and energy-efficient technologies to reduce environmental impact.