Eastern Railway is continuously striving to elevate its standards in environmental management, whether it be in the operational processes, stations, or other railway premises. The commitment to environmental sustainability has always been a top priority for Eastern Railway, and under the adept leadership of General Manager Shri Sumit Sarkar, the railway is making significant strides towards obtaining an even higher Green Certification across all aspects.
In a groundbreaking accomplishment, Howrah Railway Station, the largest, busiest, and one of the oldest railway stations in the Indian Railways network, has remarkably upgraded its Green Rating from Gold to Platinum within an impressive five-month period. Despite handling a daily footfall of approximately 6.5 lakhs passengers, the station’s remarkable dedication to sustainable practices and environmental responsibility has set a new benchmark in the history of Green Ratings, achieving the upgrade from Gold to Platinum in just five months.
The Green Railway Stations rating system, developed by CII-IGBC (Confederation of Indian Industry – Indian Green Building Council) with the support of the Environment Directorate of Indian Railways, aims to promote the adoption of green concepts. This initiative seeks to reduce adverse environmental impacts due to station operation and maintenance while enhancing the overall commuter experience. The rating system serves as a tool for station management to gauge their current position in terms of ‘green performance’ and identify measures for continual improvement. Green Ratings are classified as Certified (50-59), Silver (60-69), Gold (70-79), and Platinum (80-89), with Howrah Railway Station achieving a remarkable score of 83, securing the highest possible rating.
The journey towards Platinum began in April 2018 when Howrah Railway Station received a Silver Rating, valid until June 2021. Following extensive environmental projects and recertification efforts, the station achieved a Gold Rating on June 23, 2023. Not content with Gold, the Howrah Division, under the guidance of Divisional Railway Manager/Howrah, Sri. Sanjeev Kumar, made relentless efforts to achieve an even better rating, resulting in the prestigious Platinum Rating awarded by CII-IGBC on January 3, 2024.
The transformation from Gold to Platinum underscores the station’s outstanding improvement in environmental performance, energy and water efficiency, and overall green initiatives. The collaborative efforts of railway authorities, staff, passengers, and all stakeholders played a pivotal role in this remarkable journey.
Key initiatives undertaken by Eastern Railway for the Platinum Rating of Howrah Station include enhancing the waste disposal system, implementing innovative Brownfield redevelopment initiatives for non-fare box revenue, conducting regular water audits and harvesting, monitoring air quality, and conducting regular energy audits with the implementation of a SCADA system and extensive use of solar panels.
The achievement of the Platinum Rating exemplifies Howrah Railway Station’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, serving as a commendable example for other railway stations and institutions nationwide.
