Bio-toilets in all trains by March 2019

Presently 3158 coaches of South Central Railways (SCR) are equipped with bio-toilets and rest 1442 will get bio-toilets in next nine months.

SECUNDERABAD: Indian Railways will be equipped with bio-toilets by March 2019. For the maintenance purpose, the railway will train their staff and teach them the new technology. “We have been pondering upon the introduction of bio-toilets in Indian Railways for so long and now by next year, this will become reality. Work has already been started,” said Ravindra Gupta, member of rolling stock, Railway Board, New Delhi.

During the 17^th carriage maintenance group meet of railways, Gupta talked about various aspects of Indian Railways and issues related to bio-toilets like foul smell, choking and flushing. South Central Railways (SCR) have taken measures like one-time evacuation of the first chamber of all bio-toilets and maintenance of contracts with specialised contracts in this regard. He stressed the need for proper ventilation in coaches which will add comfort to the journey.

To modernize Indian railways, he emphasized on mechanized coach cleaning and quick watering plants. “We will soon implement the concept of mechanized coach cleaning, for which we are sending the team of railway officials to Germany to study mechanised coach maintenance.

Presently 3158 coaches of South Central Railways (SCR) are equipped with bio-toilets and rest 1442 will get bio-toilets in next nine months.

For the passenger complaints and feedback mechanism, there will be unified toll-free number throughout the country. Considering passenger safety as a great concern, the meeting also highlighted the need for installation of CCTV surveillance cameras on large scale.

Vinod Kumar Yadav, general manager, SCR, said, “Initiatives like installation of digital temperature devices, provision of disposable towels to AC coach passengers need to be examined. Reduction in coach maintenance time to facilitate the running of more trains also needs to be looked into.”