Ministry of Railways Wins PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award for Rooftop Solarisation
12,495 Railway Buildings Equipped with Rooftop Solar Systems Across India; 351 MW Capacity Commissioned
Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan presented the award to the Ministry of Railways at the Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on November 5.
The Ministry secured the top position in the category of “Maximum Buildings Solarized by Central Ministries/Departments” under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The recognition acknowledges the Railways’ efforts to expand rooftop solar installations across its extensive network of administrative offices, railway establishments and other feasible buildings.
According to the Ministry, a total of 15,868 railway buildings have been identified as feasible for rooftop solar installations across the country. Of these, 12,495 buildings have already been equipped with rooftop solar systems, representing approximately 79 per cent of the identified buildings.
The Ministry has also commissioned 351 MW of rooftop solar capacity against its overall target of 424 MW. The achievement reflects the scale of renewable energy adoption across railway infrastructure and the organisation’s efforts to reduce dependence on conventional sources of electricity.
Railways Makes Significant Contribution to National Solarisation Drive
The Ministry of Railways has emerged as a major contributor to the nationwide solarisation initiative being implemented across Central Government establishments under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
At the national level, 39,135 buildings have been identified as feasible for solarisation across 77 Central Ministries and Departments. Of these, 25,984 buildings have been equipped with rooftop solar systems so far, accounting for approximately 66 per cent of the total identified buildings.
With 12,495 buildings already solarised, Indian Railways alone accounts for a substantial share of the total installations completed across Central Government organisations.
The award also highlights the potential of large public sector organisations to accelerate renewable energy adoption through the utilisation of existing infrastructure. Railway buildings spread across different regions provide significant opportunities for rooftop solar generation, helping meet electricity requirements through clean and sustainable energy sources.
Target to Solarise All Feasible Buildings by March 2027
The Ministry of Railways has reiterated its commitment to completing the solarisation of all remaining feasible railway buildings by March 2027.
The initiative is part of the Railways’ broader efforts to promote clean energy, improve energy efficiency and reduce its environmental footprint. Expanding rooftop solar capacity across railway establishments is expected to support the organisation’s long-term sustainability objectives while reducing reliance on conventional electricity sources.
The progress achieved so far, with nearly four-fifths of the identified feasible buildings already solarised, places the Ministry in a strong position to meet its March 2027 target.
The PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award recognises the Ministry’s performance in implementing rooftop solar installations at an institutional scale. It also reinforces the importance of renewable energy initiatives in India’s public infrastructure sector.
With 351 MW of rooftop solar capacity already commissioned and thousands of buildings covered under the programme, Indian Railways is continuing to expand its contribution to India’s clean energy transition.
