LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Metro has introduced UV lamps to sanitise even minuscule nooks and corners of coaches to ensure an ultra-hygienic public transport system.
Managing director of Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) Kumar Keshav said that the Lucknow Metro is second in the world to be using the technology after the New York subway system.
The UV system, developed by a Jaipur-based private company, has been tested for over two weeks and approved last October by Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).
“Last June, after going through a twitter feed on New York subway experimentation to sanitise their coaches with UV light, we contacted a Jaipur-based UV apparatus manufacturer. Based on our requirements, the firm developed a UV lamp to sanitise an entire coach. Prior to this, in May 2020 we had introduced UV sanitisation box for Metro tokens,” said Kumar.
The UV sanitization works on ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) disinfection method. It uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (Ultraviolet C or UV-C) light of 254 nm UV-C to kill or make micro-organisms inactive by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA. Depending upon the kind of box/room/area to be sanitised, the wattage is adjusted and suitable wavelength is identified.
Kumar said, “The apparatus certified by DRDO, sanitizes the entire coach in seven minutes but as added care, we are sanitising each coach for 15 minutes. The apparatus is operated through a remote, so that the operator doesn’t come in direct contact of UV rays which are harmful for skin and health.”
He added, “Similar apparatus is being used by medical industry to sanitise operation theatres and medical equipment. The best part of this initiative is that it is very economical, that is, approximately a cost reduction to 1/40th (2.5%) of the cost of sanitization through manual mode for 16 trains.”
Currently, UPMRC spends Rs 5,000 per day to sanitise its 20 trains, but a UV lamp costs Rs 8,000 per unit and they are long-lasting. The corporation is likely to purchase over a dozen lamps.