#IndianRailways: How Railways is planning to improve cleanliness of toilets
Over the decades, Indian Railways has come a long way in terms of connectivity, ticketing services, passenger amenities, convenience, and comfort. But the cleanliness of toilets, both in trains and railway stations, is one area that needs improvement. However, the national transporter has undertaken several initiatives lately to address the issue of stinking, unhygienic, and choked toilets. Here's how Railways is ensuring cleaner toilets.
Railways is installing bio-toilets to keep platforms, tracks clean
Railways introduced bio-toilets to provide clean and improved toilets on trains. It has also intensified the pace of bio-toilet installation to keep platform lines and tracks free from toilet waste. By 2019, the entire broad-gauge fleet will have bio-toilets. To maintain cleanliness of toilets and coaches, several add-ons, including dustbins, mugs with chains, health faucets, etc., are being provided in AC and non-AC classes.
On Board Housekeeping Service and Coach Mitra facility
For improving cleanliness of coach toilets, doorways, aisles, and passenger compartments, Railways launched On Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) for over 1,050 pairs of trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and important long-distance Mail/Express trains. Also, it introduced "Coach Mitra" facility in 1,000 pairs of OBHS-equipped trains. It's a single-window interface to register passengers' coach-related requirements/complaints like cleaning, disinfection, linen, train lighting, air-conditioning, and watering of coaches.
Separate toilets for men, women and pay-and-use facility at stations
For the convenience of passengers, Railways introduced separate toilets for men and women at all railway stations under A1, A, B, and D categories. It is building more toilets and upgrading other amenities at stations. Railways is also operating normal and deluxe public toilets on a pay-and-use basis at 900 stations and 60 stations, respectively. Such toilets would be introduced for remaining stations too.
Integrated mechanized cleaning at stations and in trains
The Railways is also working on introducing integrated mechanized cleaning facilities with improved processes and machinery in more stations, coaches, and toilets. About 520 stations currently have mechanized cleaning facilities. To ensure higher standards of cleanliness at stations and on trains, railway officials carry out regular inspections at various levels and required action is taken wherever necessary.
