India has taken a trailblazing step in sustainable transport engineering. On August 15, 2025—Independence Day Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) in Varanasi commissioned the country’s first detachable solar panel system installed between live railway tracks. Spanning 70 meters, the pilot features 28 bifacial, mono-crystalline panels delivering 15 kWp of power, translating to a power density of 220 kWp/km and estimated daily output of 880 units per km. If scaled, this could translate to around 321,000 kWh per km annually—all from unused track space, with no land acquisition required.

The panels are ingeniously mounted on concrete sleepers using rubber vibration pads and epoxy adhesive, allowing easy removal via four allen bolts to enable track maintenance without disrupting train traffic. With 144 half-cut PERC bifacial cells, module efficiency of 21.31%, and robust IP68 junction boxes, this setup embodies both durability and efficiency. 

This initiative extends Indian Railways’ green transition already featuring rooftop solar installations toward its net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 goal. As a scalable model, this innovation promises to inspire railways globally, aligning infrastructure with environmental responsibility.