IR plans to utilise its vacant land to set up solar power plants

IR is planning to make use of its vacant land by installing solar power plants with a total capacity of 30 GW. Under the first phase of this initiative, the target is to set up plants that will generate about 10 GW of solar power. This will help IR in decreasing its energy bill by around Rs 300 billion each year. The Solar Energy Corporation of India is likely to be entrusted with the responsibility of issuing a tender for the same. The solar panels are planned to be installed along the tracks and unoccupied land. IR has about 51,000 hectares of vacant land and the identification for suitability with regard to panel installation is expected to commence soon.