Railways mulling to replace bio-toilets with airplane-like toilets: Piyush Goyal
After installing bio-toilets in almost all the train coaches, Indian Railways is now mulling to replace them with "upgraded" vacuum bio-toilets (like those in an airplane), Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said. "We are experimenting in this regard and have ordered around 500 vacuum bio-toilets. Once the experiment is successful, I'm willing to spend money to replace all 2.5 lakh toilets," Goyal said. Here's more.
Total cost to fit bio-toilets would cost Rs. 250cr
As of 31 May, nearly 1.37 lakh bio-toilets have been fitted in 37,411 coaches, at a cost of around Rs. 1 lakh per toilet. Railway also planned to install bio-toilets in around 18,750 more coaches by March 2019. The total cost of fitting bio-toilets in all coaches is around Rs. 250cr. Toilets will be odor-free and will reduce water usage by 1/20th, Goyal added.
Railways will have 100% bio-toilets by March 2019: Goyal
"By March 2019, we will be 100% on bio-toilets, which in itself is a big achievement. The tracks will be cleaner, the smell will go away and rail renewal will be reduced," Goyal said.
UDAN scheme gives good competition to railways, says Goyal
Hailing Civil Aviation Ministry's regional connectivity scheme, UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik), as a great achievement for India, Goyal said the competition was good for the railways. "As Prime Minister says, now a person in hawai chappals can also afford to fly. It is a matter of great pride for this government that we are empowering the poorest of the poor," he said.
