Railway authorities have announced their plans to upgrade the current lavatories with state-of-the-art models featuring automatic hygiene and odour control systems.
11 March 2023, New Delhi: In a bid to improve the quality of train toilets, the Indian Railways has initiated a pilot project on the Ranchi Rajdhani train. The project involves replacing existing toilets with four newly designed and upgraded bio-toilets in an air-conditioned coach, offering better amenities. Feedback from passengers will be used to inform the proposed implementation of the new facilities across other trains.
The lavatories boast automatic odour control and hygiene systems, with touch-free, sensor-based water taps and soap dispensers. Authorities have taken stringent measures to prevent pilferage. In addition to the washrooms, the doorways and gangways have been revamped to provide first-rate amenities for the duration of the train ride.
According to an official, toilets on railways have been the subject of the most complaints, citing issues of poor hygiene, unpleasant odors, and malfunctioning. However, these concerns have been effectively tackled in the newly designed systems.
In January, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Railway Minister, conducted an inspection of the upgraded restrooms at New Delhi station. Following the inspection, he directed officials to install the contemporary washrooms in all train coaches, replacing the current ones.
According to insiders, the first stage involves replacing all toilets on Rajdhani trains with modernized versions. Following this, these upgraded toilets will be gradually introduced in other mail and express trains. The estimated cost of each refurbished restroom is roughly Rs 2.5 lakh.
Vaishnaw instructed railway officials to install the novel toilet design in 6,000 carriages annually.