Every day as I walk into the MRTS (Mass Rapid Transit System) station at Taramani, Chennai (India) the
feel of wasting a colossal opportunity to use the station space for public utility
and as an example of energy efficiency strikes me hard. The truly bumpy ride to
the station in an auto rickshaw and the lumps of cow-shit and dog-shit covering
the floor inside the complex don’t actually bother me as much.
Photos soon.
Photos soon.
The ground floor of the station, except for the ticket counter
at the west end is entirely wasted. Much can be done about this space about
which I plan to post a blog later.
When I go up the platform floor and as I wait for the train
to come in, it is hard to miss the huge rooftop and side covers. What better
place to install and harness solar energy than this vast collectible area of
solar energy. The station needs lighting very badly to ensure safety of
passengers. If solar panels are installed, it can easily supply entire power
needs of the station lighting and also leave enough for other uses.
If the ground floor space can be made viable for social/commercially
use, the spare solar power can satisfy their lighting and other small power
needs too.
This is true for most of the MRTS stations as well. The very
design of MRTS stations lends them for this solar power application very well.
If the government can lead by example by using space in its
control for harnessing renewable energy, it will promote faster public and private
adoption. Needless to say, it will also promote a sustainable solar cell
manufacturing industry; provide jobs for installation and maintenance personnel
as additional social benefits. I am sure any wholesome analysis (Cost-Benefit,
Social Benefit, Economic impact analysis) will support this cause.
Its absolutely correct. But I think its because of govt laziness or impotent officials the space is still wasted. As a mrts user I wish some small shop which could sell tea/coffee/water/newspaper...but nothing works in India
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