Northeast Frontier Railway Achieves Major Milestones in Renewable Energy

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has made remarkable progress in renewable energy adoption, electric traction, and operational safety during the current financial year (FY’26), officials said on Friday.

As part of its green energy initiatives, NFR commissioned 9.27 MWp rooftop solar power plants till December 2025, a 373% increase over the same period last year. The achievement marks the highest rooftop solar capacity installed in a single year since 2011-12, bringing NFR’s cumulative solar capacity to 18.4 MWp .

In a bid to expand electric traction , the NFR inaugurated Trip Inspection (TRIP) sheds at New Jalpaiguri and Dibrugarh in August and November 2025, respectively. These sheds facilitate electric locomotive inspections , improving reliability and operational efficiency. Additionally, 31 train pairs were converted from diesel to end-to-end electric traction , resulting in the saving of 26 diesel locomotives , reducing fossil fuel dependence.

The indigenous automatic train protection system ‘Kavach’ has now been installed in 81 electric locomotives out of a total fleet of 285, enhancing safety and preventing collisions. NFR also introduced sectional videography during night hours in the Katihar, Alipurduar, Rangiya, and Tinsukia divisions , aimed at improving route knowledge and situational awareness among staff.

These initiatives align with India’s broader renewable energy and electric mobility policies , including the National Solar Mission , Green Energy Corridors , and incentives for diesel-to-electric conversions in transport sectors. By integrating solar power, electric traction, and advanced safety systems , NFR is setting a benchmark for sustainable railway operations in the northeast region.

Officials emphasized that these steps are part of a long-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions , promote clean energy adoption , and improve passenger safety . They also highlighted NFR’s commitment to meeting national renewable energy targets , contributing to India’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions in the transport sector .