Gurgaon: Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) will explore solar power solutions to reduce its energy bill and improve financial sustainability of the Rapid Metro network.The move comes in view of rising electricity expenses that now form nearly a 20% share of its operational costs. According to HMRTC, power and traction expenses increased to over Rs 11 crore between April 2025 and Jan 2026, up from over Rs 9 crore in the corresponding period last year. Power costs alone accounting for nearly one-fifth of the total operational expenditure makes them one of the largest cost components for the system.The Rapid Metro network — currently spanning 11.7 km — is owned by HMRTC and connects key office hubs along Golf Course Road, with an interchange at Sikanderpur station linking it to the Delhi Metro Yellow Line.“The board has decided to explore solar energy solutions, including installation of solar panels at the stations, depot and other available infrastructure, to reduce power and traction costs. Since electricity expense contributes a significant portion of our operational expenditure, the aim is to optimise these costs and improve overall financial performance. While we have moved towards operational surplus, controlling energy expenses will be key to sustaining it,” a senior official of HMRTC said.During a board meeting last month, the management was also asked to examine the feasibility of procuring solar power from Indian Railways to run metro operations, with the objective of curbing energy costs and improving operational profitability.Rapid Metro has shown improvement in both ridership and revenue, though expenditure pressures persist. Total income rose to Rs 58.9 crore during April 2025-Jan 2026, compared to over Rs 42 crore in the same period last year. However, total expenditure also increased to over Rs 58 crore from Rs 51.3 crore. As a result, the system posted a marginal surplus of Rs 0.22 crore this year, aided largely by higher non-fare revenue. In the previous year, it recorded a deficit of Rs 9.2 crore.In March, TOI reported that passenger footfall went up steadily over the past year, with average daily ridership now hovering around 53,000 passengers, up from nearly 47,000 last year. Total ridership increased by 13.5% between April 2025 and Feb 2026, reaching 1.7 crore passengers, up from 1.5 crore in the corresponding period last year.Similar renewable energy mechanisms have been adopted by the various organisations operating mass transit systems across the country to manage expenses. In Delhi, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation meets a significant share of its power demand through renewable sources, sourcing around 350 million units annually from the Rewa Solar Park and generating an additional 40 million units through rooftop solar installations. This accounts for roughly one-third of its total power consumption.
