Solar power at Bagdogra

TT, Siliguri, Jan. 31: The entire administrative building of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in Bagdogra would run on solar power, officials of the airport authority said today.

The solar power plant at the airport was opened this afternoon.

"We have made a solar power plant close to the powerhouse of the airport. It will generate around 50KW and would be used in the entire administrative building (outside the terminal building). This would help us save around Rs 40,000 in our monthly power bill," Rakesh Sahay, the airport director of Bagdogra, said.

The plant has been set up in consultation with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) that functions under the Union ministry of new and renewable energy.

AAI sources said the authority had spent around Rs 34 lakh for the project.

"We have received a certificate from the SECI that enables us to make the plant functional and use the power. Further, we have also received a subsidy of around 15 per cent of our project cost from the organisation," a source said.

At the airport, around 400MW are required during the working hours, which AAI sources said, translates to around Rs 7-8 lakh a year.

"Now that the demand of energy has reduced, our power bill would come down by around Rs 5 lakh in a year," the source added.

Along with the solar power plant, AAI officials said they have also finished construction work of the space at the terminal building where the new restaurant would come up.

"The existing restaurant area at the first floor would be included in the security hold area so that we can accommodate more passengers after security checks," Sahay said. "The restaurant has been shifted in another portion on the same floor. It will come up over an area of 550sqm."