Railway Ministry recognised for leading rooftop solar adoption among Central Ministries; 351 MW of capacity commissioned against a target of 424 MW, with completion of feasible installations planned by March 2027

The Ministry of Railways has received the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award for achieving the highest number of solarised buildings among Central Ministries and Departments. Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan presented the award at the Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 5 November 2026.

The recognition highlights Indian Railways’ progress in adopting rooftop solar energy across its nationwide infrastructure, supporting the government’s push towards renewable energy and energy efficiency in public institutions.

According to the Ministry, 12,495 railway buildings have been equipped with rooftop solar systems, representing 79% of the 15,868 feasible buildings identified for installation. The Ministry has commissioned 351 MW of rooftop solar capacity against its target of 424 MW.

Railway Ministry Leads Solar Adoption Among Central Departments

Under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the Ministry secured the top position in the category of Maximum Buildings Solarized by Central Ministries/Departments.

At the national level, 25,984 of the 39,135 buildings identified across 77 Central Ministries and Departments have been solarised, accounting for 66% of the total identified buildings. Indian Railways has contributed significantly to this progress.

The Ministry has set March 2027 as the target to solarise all remaining feasible railway buildings, extending the use of renewable energy across its infrastructure.

Key Highlights

• National recognition: Ministry of Railways receives the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award.
• 12,495 buildings solarised: Rooftop solar systems installed across 79% of identified feasible railway buildings.
• 351 MW commissioned: Rooftop solar capacity achieved against a target of 424 MW.
• 15,868 buildings identified: Feasible railway buildings earmarked for rooftop solar installations.
• National progress: 25,984 buildings solarised across 77 Central Ministries and Departments.
• March 2027 target: Railway Ministry aims to complete solarisation of all remaining feasible buildings.

Impact on Hospitality, Travel & Tourism

1. Renewable energy as an operational priority

Indian Railways’ rooftop solar programme highlights the potential of renewable energy across large infrastructure networks. Hotels, resorts, convention centres and institutional hospitality facilities can draw lessons from the scale of this initiative when evaluating rooftop solar installations and long-term energy strategies.

2. Energy efficiency and operating-cost management

Electricity is a significant operating requirement for hotels, particularly for air conditioning, kitchens, lighting, laundry and guest facilities. Solar power can help suitable properties reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and manage energy costs, depending on installation capacity, consumption patterns and local conditions.

3. Greener transport infrastructure and visitor experience

Railway stations and associated buildings are important parts of the tourism ecosystem. Greater adoption of renewable energy across railway infrastructure can contribute to the wider sustainability agenda for transport and destination development.

4. Sustainability benchmarks for hospitality businesses

The recognition of Indian Railways demonstrates how measurable targets, infrastructure mapping and phased implementation can support institutional sustainability programmes. Hospitality companies can apply similar approaches to track renewable-energy capacity, building coverage and progress towards environmental goals.

Industry Takeaway

Indian Railways’ achievement of 351 MW of rooftop solar capacity marks a significant step in integrating renewable energy into large-scale public infrastructure. With 79% of identified feasible buildings already solarised, the Ministry is targeting completion by March 2027.

For the hospitality sector, the development reinforces the growing importance of renewable energy in managing building operations and strengthening sustainability commitments. Hotels and tourism infrastructure providers can increasingly view rooftop solar not only as an environmental initiative but also as a long-term operational investment.