Indian Railways Wins PM Surya Ghar Award After Installing Rooftop Solar at 12,495 Buildings

Indian Railways has received the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award after installing rooftop solar systems at 12,495 buildings across the country. The achievement has earned the Ministry of Railways the first position among Central Ministries and Departments in the category of maximum buildings solarised under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.

The award was presented by Vice-President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan on November 5, 2026, during the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Beyond the recognition, the latest figures highlight the scale of India's rooftop solar expansion across public infrastructure. Indian Railways has already commissioned 351 MW of rooftop solar capacity and is working towards its target of 424 MW.

With thousands of buildings spread across railway zones, divisions and operational facilities, the initiative represents a significant step in bringing solar power into the country's large public-sector infrastructure.

Indian Railways Solarises 79% of Identified Buildings

The Ministry of Railways identified 15,868 buildings across the country as suitable for rooftop solar installations. Of these, 12,495 buildings have already been equipped with solar systems.

This means nearly 79% of the identified railway buildings have been covered so far.

The progress is not limited to the number of installations. Indian Railways has also commissioned 351 MW of rooftop solar capacity against its overall target of 424 MW. 

Here is a snapshot of the latest progress:

• Total feasible buildings identified: 15,868
• Buildings with rooftop solar: 12,495
• Installation progress: 79%
• Rooftop solar capacity commissioned: 351 MW
• Overall capacity target: 424 MW
• Target for remaining installations: March 2027

The figures show that the railway ministry has made substantial progress towards its rooftop solar target. The remaining installations will be important for completing the planned coverage of technically feasible buildings.

Why Are Railway Buildings Important for Rooftop Solar?

Indian Railways operates an extensive network of infrastructure across the country. Its buildings and facilities create opportunities for solar installations at a scale that is different from individual residential rooftops.

Railway infrastructure includes administrative buildings, offices, workshops, service facilities and other establishments. Where rooftop area, structural conditions and electricity requirements are suitable, these locations can support solar power generation.

Unlike a small residential installation, rooftop solar across a large organisation can be developed at multiple locations under a coordinated programme. This allows institutions to expand renewable energy use across their existing infrastructure without depending only on new land-based solar projects.

For an organisation with a nationwide presence such as Indian Railways, identifying suitable buildings and completing installations across different locations is a major part of the implementation process.

The current progress of 12,495 solarised buildings reflects the scale of this effort.

Indian Railways Is Part of a Larger Government Solarisation Drive

The rooftop solar initiative is not limited to the railway ministry. Several Central Ministries and Departments are also installing solar systems across their administrative buildings.

According to the Ministry of Railways' official announcement, 39,135 buildings were identified across 77 Central Ministries and Departments as part of the government building solarisation effort.

Out of these, 25,984 buildings have been equipped with rooftop solar systems. This represents approximately 66% of the total identified buildings.

Indian Railways has contributed significantly to this progress and secured the first position in the category of maximum buildings solarised.

The Department of Financial Services also received recognition in the same award category, securing second position after achieving solar installations across all 2,576 buildings identified as feasible under its administrative control. It commissioned 61.50 MW of rooftop solar capacity.

These figures show that government building solarisation is progressing across multiple departments, with different ministries working towards their respective installation targets.

What Is the March 2027 Target for Indian Railways?

Although Indian Railways has completed rooftop solar installations at nearly 79% of its identified feasible buildings, work remains to cover the remaining locations.

The ministry has set March 2027 as the target to solarise all remaining feasible railway buildings.

The next phase will involve completing installations at buildings that have been identified as technically suitable but are not yet covered.

Technical feasibility is an important consideration in rooftop solar projects. Roof access, structural strength, available space, shading and the building's electricity requirements can influence whether a particular site is suitable for installation.

Therefore, the target is based on the buildings identified as feasible for rooftop solar, rather than every railway building without exception.

Completing the remaining installations will help Indian Railways move closer to its planned 424 MW rooftop solar capacity target.

How Is PM Surya Ghar Yojana Connected to the Railway Award?

PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana is widely known for supporting residential rooftop solar installations. The scheme aims to encourage households to generate electricity through solar panels installed on their rooftops.

However, the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Awards also recognise the contribution of Central Ministries and Departments towards solarising government buildings.

Indian Railways received this recognition under the category of Maximum Buildings Solarized by Central Ministries/Departments.

This distinction is important because the award is not a household subsidy benefit or a residential solar installation award for railway employees. It recognises the ministry's institutional contribution to rooftop solar adoption.

The recognition also highlights how the wider rooftop solar programme is encouraging solar installations beyond individual homes.

What This Achievement Means for India's Solar Energy Sector

The expansion of rooftop solar across public buildings creates opportunities for India's solar energy sector. Government departments and large institutions can become important participants in renewable energy adoption through installations across their existing infrastructure.

Projects of this scale require solar modules, inverters, mounting structures, electrical components, installation expertise and ongoing system maintenance. They also demonstrate the importance of assessing each site's technical requirements before installation.

For the Indian solar manufacturing and project development ecosystem, large institutional programmes highlight the growing role of rooftop solar alongside utility-scale solar parks and residential installations.

Indian Railways' progress also shows that rooftop solar adoption is no longer limited to individual households or commercial buildings. Public infrastructure can contribute to the country's renewable energy expansion when suitable rooftops are identified and developed.

With 351 MW already commissioned and a target of 424 MW, the railway ministry has another important milestone ahead.

What Happens Next?

Indian Railways has set March 2027 as the deadline for installing rooftop solar systems across all remaining feasible buildings. The focus will now be on completing the pending installations and moving closer to the overall capacity target.

The PM Surya Ghar Excellence Award recognises the progress achieved so far, particularly the installation of solar systems across 12,495 railway buildings.

The next milestone will be whether the ministry can complete the remaining work within its announced timeline and achieve its planned rooftop solar coverage.