MUMBAI: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Maharashtra Government is planning to generate electricity from the movement of vehicles on the Mumbai-Pune express highway. The power produced as part of the project would be used to light up toll plazas, provide local lighting and power the fountains and sprinkler systems on the 95-km-long access control road, which has reduced the travel time between the two cities.
The Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA), which is the nodal agency in the state for the development of renewable energy, has
entered into an MoU with the Pune-based Science and Technology Park (STP) for the project. The STP will now be the MEDA’s knowledge partner in the development of energy through non-conventional sources.
Sharad Pustake, advisor, Clean Tech and Energy, STP, told The New Indian Express that they were working on a number of models, like using the wind displaced due to the movement of vehicles to generate power using small wind mills, channelising the difference in pressure within the six tunnels on the express highway to generate energy using motors and using humps with flexible springs fitted on the roads near toll plazas to generate electricity.
“This power can be used for water fountains and sprinklers,” Pustake said.