Solar Panels on Railway Tracks? Varanasi Shows How Idle Spaces Can Power Stations & Towns

Solar Panels on Railway Tracks? Varanasi Shows How Idle Spaces Can Power Stations & Towns

On a stretch of track inside Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) in Varanasi, something unusual now catches the eye. Between the steel rails, where one would normally expect only gravel and sleepers, neat rows of solar panels have been laid out. They shimmer under the sun, marking the start of an experiment never before seen in India. On 15 August 2025, Varanasi became the first city in the country to pilot a system of removable solar panels between …