Maruti Suzuki India Limited has registered its in-plant railway siding at the Gujarat manufacturing facility under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) program of Verra. According to the company, the project has been classified as a modal shift transportation initiative under the VCS framework. Verra operates one of the largest voluntary carbon credit registries globally.
Carbon Credit Generation and Emission Reduction
The railway siding enables the company to dispatch vehicles directly from the plant through rail instead of road transport. Over a 10-year crediting period from FY 2023–24 to FY 2032–33, the project is expected to reduce approximately 1.7 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions. Based on verified emission reductions, around 1.7 lakh carbon credits are expected to be issued under the VCS program.
Emission reductions have been calculated using the AM0090 methodology under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Independent verification is required before carbon credits are issued.
Link to Sustainable Development Goals
The company stated that the project aligns with certain United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 13: Climate Action
The project is part of the company’s logistics operations aimed at shifting part of its outbound vehicle transportation from road to rail.
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said “This is a proud moment for Maruti Suzuki as our Gujarat in-plant railway siding is recognized as the world’s first Verra-registered Modal Shift in Transportation project. By transitioning vehicle movement from road to rail, the project demonstrates how scale, operational efficiency and environmental responsibility can seamlessly go hand in hand. Leveraging the inherent efficiency of rail transport, the Gujarat in-plant railway siding has significantly reduced the carbon footprint of our logistics operations, while also easing road congestion and lowering overall fossil fuel consumption. We are honoured by the recognition from Verra. This milestone marks a significant step forward in our sustainability journey and reinforces our commitment to setting industry benchmarks that align with India’s strong steps towards net zero emissions.”
