Namo Bharat Corridor to be Powered by Pioneering 110 MW Captive Solar Plant; Project to Meet 60% of Corridor’s Energy Needs
Meerut.NCRTC signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NIRL NCRTC Renewables Limited (NNRL) for 110 MW captive solar power plant, to be established by NNRL. The agreement was signed in the presence of Managing Director, NCRTC, Shri Shalabh Goel, Director Finance & CMD Designate, NIRL, Dr. Prasanna Kumar Acharya, Director, Finance, NCRTC, Smt. Namita Mehrotra, Director, Electricals & Rolling Stock, NCRTC, Shri Mahendra Kumar, and senior officials from NCRTC and NIRL.
A first-of-its-kind project for the country’s RRTS and Metro transit systems, the captive solar power plant sets a new benchmark for the integration of renewable energy into mass urban transit. It is expected to meet nearly 60 per cent of the Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat corridor's electricity requirement. This project will strengthen the corridor's long-term operational efficiency through clean and reliable energy.
The estimated project cost of this solar plant is around ₹450 crore and will be developed in Jaulan city of Uttar Pradesh through an 80:20 debt-equity funding model. Power generated at the plant will be supplied through the Uttar Pradesh state grid to the Receiving Substations (RSSs) of NCRTC located in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, from where it will be distributed across the Namo Bharat corridor. The project leverages the Uttar Pradesh Solar Energy Policy to promote the use of renewable energy. It is scheduled to be commissioned within the next 24 months.
Electricity accounts for nearly 30 to 35 per cent of the operational cost of the Namo Bharat corridor, making it one of the largest recurring expenditures. The captive solar project is expected to reduce annual electricity expenditure by around 25 per cent while contributing towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Under the arrangement, NCRTC will procure electricity generated from the captive solar power plant at a fixed tariff for a period of 25 years, ensuring predictable energy costs over the long term as well as energy security.
Apart from the financial benefits, the project is expected to deliver significant environmental gains. By replacing a substantial share of conventionally generated electricity with clean solar power, it is estimated to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 1.77 lakh tonnes annually. The initiative is also expected to reduce emissions of harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂), contributing to cleaner air and supporting sustainable urban mobility in the region.
The initiative comes at a significant juncture for the Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat corridor, which has witnessed a steady and encouraging increase in ridership since the entire Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut corridor was commissioned in February 2026. Recently, Hon’ble Prime Minister has also cited the Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat Rapid Rail System as a “very good example” of positive governance, highlighting its timely project delivery and quality public service. At present, around one lakh passengers are travelling on the corridor every day, with cumulative ridership having crossed more than 4 crore passenger journeys. The corridor recorded its highest-ever daily ridership of over 1.68 lakh passengers on 28 August, the day of Rakshabandhan. Namo Bharat trains have maintained consistent performance even during peak demand, extreme heat, monsoon conditions and festive periods such as Kanwar Yatra and Diwali.
This project is being developed by NNRL, the joint venture between NCRTC and NIRL, a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC). As a pioneering captive solar power project for the country’s RRTS and Metro transit systems, the initiative is expected to serve as a model for future urban and regional transit networks seeking to integrate renewable energy into their operations. By combining long-term financial savings with substantial environmental benefits, the project reinforces NCRTC's commitment to building an efficient, sustainable and future-ready public transport system.
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