About Bareka
BLW or Bareka is a premier locomotive manufacturing unit of Indian Railways, located in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi. Established in 1956, BLW is now a significant player in India's railway infrastructure development.
Installation of solar panels
The pilot project, located on Line No. 19 of the BLW workshop, involves the installation of 28 bifacial monocrystallinesolar panelsspanning 70 metres. These panels, with a total capacity of 15 kWp, are mounted on concrete track
This design allows for easy removal during track maintenance without disrupting train operations.
Public Relations Officer Rajesh Kumar told PTI, “Varanasi’s BAREKA, as part of a pilot project, has introduced an innovative use of the vacant space between railway tracks. Engineers at BAREKA observed that since India has an extensive railway network, the empty stretches between tracks could be effectively utilised for
VIDEO | Varanasi: Bareka railway tracks installed with solar panels; India’s first removable solar panel system.
PRO Rajesh Kumar says, "Varanasi’s BAREKA, as part of a pilot project, has introduced an innovative use of the vacant space between railway tracks. Engineers at… pic.twitter.com/RzBlWMdo9W
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2025
How the solar panels will work
The removable solar panels are designed with rubber mounting pads to absorb vibrations from passing trains and are secured with epoxy adhesive to ensure a robust connection to the concrete sleepers. This design will facilitate easy removal for maintenance and also ensure the durability and efficiency of the solar panels.
This initiative complements existing rooftop solar power plants at BLW and is a step towards green energy innovation in Indian Railways.
Achievements of BLW
In 2024-25, BLW achieved a historic milestone by manufacturing 477 locomotives.
BLW has also successfully exported 174 locomotives to 11 countries, including Mozambique, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Senegal, Mali, Tanzania, Angola, and Vietnam.
Mozambique Railways awarded a contract for the supply of 10 advanced 3300-horsepower AC-AC diesel-electric locomotives.
BLW has been a pioneer in locomotive technology. In 2018, it developed the WAG-11, a 12,000 HP twin-section electric
Awards
BLW has received multiple accolades for excellence in locomotive design and manufacturing. At the 42nd Maintenance Service Group (MSG) meeting, the unit earned the Loco Cab Design Award for its innovative and ergonomic locomotive cabs. In 2016, 2017, and
