Indian Railways goes green with bio-toilets
3 May 2012 1:40 PM GMT
The Carriage and Wagon wing of Delhi Division, the largest maintenance organisation in Indian Railways with about 2,750 coaches based in the division, has taken many steps to make commuting even more comfortable for the passengers.
One of the initiatives being taken to maintain hygiene and cleanliness in passenger carrying coaches is the provision of bio-toilets on passenger carrying coaches. Open discharge toilets on the trains have been under constant criticism which led to series of trials with green toilets.
Indian Railway, in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Establishment, has innovated a revolutionary design of bio-toilets. The new toilet will have a collection tank fitted with anaerobic bacteria to decompose fecal matter completely.
The first rake fitted with such anaerobic type bio-toilets has been inducted through Northern Railways into service on the Indore Intercity Express running between Hazrat Nizammudin and Indore. Through Indian Railways, it has been introduced on eight trains. Cost of one toilet is about Rs 1 lakh and 3,000 more toilets (750 coaches) are likely to be provided with green toilets.
The design of toilets will not only replace the stinking toilets but will also do away manual scavenging on trains and add to the life span of the railway tracks.
Another revolutionary provision is the mechanised linen washing and cleaning. Delhi Division provides linen services on 39 primary maintenance-based trains, which includes 12 Rajdhani and 4 Duronto trains.
Presently, washing of linen over Delhi Division, Northern Railway is being done at modern mechanised private laundries selected through open tender system with special qualifying criteria. Linen washing is being ensured at mechanised laundries where in high-capacity tunnel washers and washing extractors have been installed for the purpose.
One of the initiatives being taken to maintain hygiene and cleanliness in passenger carrying coaches is the provision of bio-toilets on passenger carrying coaches. Open discharge toilets on the trains have been under constant criticism which led to series of trials with green toilets.
Indian Railway, in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Establishment, has innovated a revolutionary design of bio-toilets. The new toilet will have a collection tank fitted with anaerobic bacteria to decompose fecal matter completely.
The first rake fitted with such anaerobic type bio-toilets has been inducted through Northern Railways into service on the Indore Intercity Express running between Hazrat Nizammudin and Indore. Through Indian Railways, it has been introduced on eight trains. Cost of one toilet is about Rs 1 lakh and 3,000 more toilets (750 coaches) are likely to be provided with green toilets.
The design of toilets will not only replace the stinking toilets but will also do away manual scavenging on trains and add to the life span of the railway tracks.
Another revolutionary provision is the mechanised linen washing and cleaning. Delhi Division provides linen services on 39 primary maintenance-based trains, which includes 12 Rajdhani and 4 Duronto trains.
Presently, washing of linen over Delhi Division, Northern Railway is being done at modern mechanised private laundries selected through open tender system with special qualifying criteria. Linen washing is being ensured at mechanised laundries where in high-capacity tunnel washers and washing extractors have been installed for the purpose.
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