The MoU will help Indian Railways continue its work on reducing its carbon footprint and becoming Net Zero by 2030.
Through the MoU, technical assistance and support will be provided to Indian Railways in several areas, such as long-term energy planning including clean energy for Indian Railways; the development of an energy efficiency policy and action plan for Indian Railways' buildings; planning for clean energy procurement to achieve the 2030 net zero vision; and technical support for addressing regulatory issues and implementation.
The MoU will also cover bid design and bid management support for system-friendly, large-scale renewable procurement and collaboratively hosting events, conferences, and capacity-building programs in the mentioned identified areas including field visits and study tours (domestic/international).
“The collaboration of Indian Railways with USAID/India will go a long way in helping Indian Railways to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2030,” Indian Railways noted.
USAID is an agency of the US Government that supports international development and advances its mission objectives by supporting economic growth, agriculture and trade, clean energy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, global health, democracy and conflict mitigation and management, and humanitarian assistance.
The MoU was signed by Shri Naveen Gulati, member (traction and rolling stock), Railway Board, Indian Railways and Isabel Coleman, deputy administrator, USAID, in the presence of Sh. Anil Kumar Lahoti, chairman & CEO, Railway Board.