Hyderabad Metro will reduce about 3.5 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide and other pollutants from the atmosphere in a year as it will contain usage of personal vehicles, reduce consumption of diesel and petrol, etc.
A study conducted by the Central Road Research Institute(CRRI) had in fact revealed that the Delhi Metro had reduced three lakh tonnes of vehicular pollutants in 2011 and had even recovered the whole cost of the project in five years in terms of its economic benefits like reduction in fuel consumption, savings in travel time, reduction in pollution levels, etc.), said HMR MD N.V.S. Reddy on Tuesday.
Listing out the eco-friendly features of the Metro Rail, he pointed out that usage of regenerative technologies by which the power produced by the braking system of coaches will be reused, efficient utilization of natural light in stations, workshops and other buildings, usage of energy efficient electrical devices and solar energy form part of the Hyderabad Metro strategy to contribute to environmental improvement.
At a meeting with HMR and L&TMRH engineers, he explained that cantilever station design on central pillars will avoid tunnel effect and lighting requirement.
Twenty per cent cement by fly ash in concreting works, creation of about 500 water harvesting structures near stations, along metro corridors and in depots and other buildings, noise reducing coaches, low vibration track forms, suspension systems, erection of noise barriers in sensitive zones, etc., are other eco-friendly features.
L&TMRH MD V. B Gadgil said large-scale plantations too were being taken up in the city. Both MDs vowed to make Hyderabad Metro the best in the world in terms of energy efficiency and to reduce pollution levels.
