SECUNDERABAD:
Indian Railways is mulling over introduction of bio-toilets in all coaches by March 2019 and the challenges of maintaining these toilets would be met through experimenting with technology and imparting proper training to the railway staff, says Ravindra Gupta, member of rolling stock, Railway Board, New Delhi.
Speaking at the 17th carriage maintenance group meet of railways that concluded here on Saturday, Gupta stressed on proper ventilation in coaches, mechanised coach cleaning and introduction of quick watering plants. He said that a team of railway officials will be sent to Germany to study mechanised coach maintenance.
Gupta's claim on bio-toilets came a few days after railway minister
Piyush Goyal stated that the railways is contemplating to replace bio-toilets in mail and express trains with vacuum bio-toilets used in flights.
Currently, the South Central Railway is equipped with bio-toilets in 3,158 coaches, while the rest 1,442 coaches are supposed to have these toilets in the next nine months. Gupta discussed several issues of bio-toilets like foul smell, choking, flushing, during the meeting. SCR has taken measures like one-time evacuation of the first chamber of all bio-toilets and maintenance of contracts with specialised contracts in this regard.
As for the passenger complaint management system, the adoption of a unified toll-free number throughout the country with feedback mechanism was also discussed at the meeting, which also highlighted the installation of
CCTV surveillance on a large scale under Nirbhaya funds for the safety of passengers.
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 running of more trains also needs to be looked into."
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