M A I N   N E W S

On green track, Delhi Metro earns carbon credits

New Delhi, September 25
The Delhi Metro has been certified by the United Nations as the first metro rail-based system in the world to get carbon credits for contributing to the fight against climate change by reducing pollution levels in the city.

The organisation has also earned carbon credits worth Rs 47 crore annually for the next seven years.

With nearly 20 lakh people taking the new-age transport system every day, the Metro has helped reduce pollution and emission of green house gases as it is a completely non-polluting and environment-friendly system.

“Thus, the DMRC has helped in reduction in emission of harmful gases into the city’s atmosphere and the United Nations Body administering the clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto Protocol has certified that DMRC has reduced emissions,” Delhi Metro spokesman Anuj Dayal said.

Thus, Dayal said, the organisation earned carbon credits worth about Rs 47 crore annually for the next seven years and with the increase in number of passengers, this figure would only increase.

No other Metro in the world could get the carbon credit because of the very stringent requirement of the United Nations Body to provide conclusive documentary proof of reduction in emissions. “It is difficult to give documentary proof of the difference of energy consumption of two scenarios - with Metro and without Metro. The DMRC proposed an innovative method of proving the emissions using sampling techniques. After rigorous persuasion, the UN body has finally agreed with this technique as it is very scientific in nature,” Dayal said.

The Delhi Metro has helped remove more than 91,000 vehicles from the roads of Delhi daily. Metro complements other modes of transport and replaces partially trips made by conventional or traditional means of transit, Dayal said.

The CDM project replaces trips made by conventional transport modes with Metro, being a more efficient, faster, safer and more reliable transport means. Emission reductions are achieved through reducing GHG emissions per passenger-kilometer, comparing conventional modes of transport with Metro, Dayal said. The resource efficiency of transporting passengers in Delhi by Metro has improved. It means emissions per passenger kilometer are reduced.

This is the second CDM project from the DMRC to be registered with the UN body in the last three years. The DMRC’s first CDM project on regenerative braking had also achieved many international firsts apart from earning valuable foreign exchange for the country. — PTI

The Change Agent

• The Delhi Metro has helped in removing more than 91,000 vehicles from the roads of the city daily.
• It has resulted in a significant reduction in pollution levels and emission of green house gases, which directly contribute to global warming.
• No other Metro in the world could get carbon credits because of the very stringent requirement of the UN body to provide conclusive proof of reduction in emissions.