Indian Railways has taken an initiative to join the 'Save Energy' campaign and tackle global warming by distributing 26 lakh Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) lamps to 6.5 lakh quarters across the country.

"The Railways are providing 26 lakh CFL for 6.5 lakh railway quarters. The distribution has already begun," Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer (General), R B Deshmukh, of Nagpur division of Central Railway, told PTI.

The Railway Board has taken up the massive project of replacement of ICL with CFL, he said.

Age-old Incandescent Lamps (ICL), popularly known as tube lights, are still used in houses and they consume lot of electricity. These are being replaced by CFL which are energy-friendly and give the same amount of illumination which ICL normally gives.

The project has been awarded to C-Quest Capital of Malaysia with Philips as CFL supplier for its distribution.

The CFL, manufactured by Philips, are having a high power factor and 10,000 hours of life.

"The project is monitored by the Bureau of Energy Efficient (BEE), a statutory body of Union Ministry for Power," Deshmukh said. .