Delhi Metro removes more carbon than it adds, says DMRC

NEW DELHI: In a special presentation on the Delhi Metro at the climate change talks in Paris, DMRC said that the system is carbon neutral, removing more carbon from the atmosphere than it contributes.

Anuj Dayal, executive director, corporate communications, DMRC, who presented the paper at the conference, said, "DMRC is the only Metro getting carbon credits for its regenerative braking and modal shift projects."

He also spoke about the revenue that DMRC was earning from the sale of carbon credits from its two greenhouse gas mitigation projects, the first of their kind in the world for the transport sector.

"The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has a well laid out sustainability plan for the future and the next step is to capture the positive health impacts from DMRC's operations, given the state of pollution in Delhi," said Dayal.


Delhi Metro, which carries 2.7 million passengers each day at present, is the world's irst ever rail-based system to earn carbon credits. Through various measures, DMRC has reduced emissions by 1,03,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2012-13. By 2013-14, emission reduction had touched 1,57,000 tonnes.The agency is targeting a sa vings of 26.60 million tonnes by 2031.

"The main works under aken for GHG mitigation are under the categories of energy-efficient buildings, use of solar energy and Metro operations. DMRC is currently using 150 MW of power, while we have already commissioned a 3 MW plant and awar ded contracts for another 8 MW. By 2021, we will take this up to 50 MW. Other works undertaken include preserva ion of top soil, monitoring of air and noise pollution, dust collection, tree plantation, water recharge, and wheel washing," said sources.

With all its new stations being built as 'green buildings', DMRC is recording 3035% savings in energy and a 50% reduction in lighting po wer density .