ECR introduces bio-toilets in several trains

Patna: East Central Railway (ECR) has introduced bio-toilets in several long distance trains in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swachch Bharat Abhiyan’. ECR CPRO Arvind Kumar Rajak said the move was aimed at maintaining cleanliness on running trains.
Rajak said the ECR has so far fitted 316 coaches of different long distance trains with bio-toilets. “The Railways has sanctioned Rs 4 crore for the purpose.Bio-toilet facility will be introduced in other trains soon. All five divisions of the zone are working on this,” he said.
Divisional railway manager (DRM), Danapur, R K Jha said efforts are being taken to ensure cleanliness at all railway stations under the zone.
“Officials are monitoring cleanliness work at stations and on running trains,” he added.
Rajak said bio-toilets are being fitted in all new LHB coaches being manufactured in Kapurthala rail coach factory.
“Railways has decided to equip conventional coaches with bio-toilets in a phased manner. It has set a target of installing bio-toilets in 2,500 coaches in the current fiscal,” he added. Rajak said all trains in the country will be equipped with bio-toilets in eight years.
In bio-toilets, an anaerobic bacterium converts human waste into water and gases (methane and carbon dioxide).
Currently bio-toilets have been provided on trial basis in Gwalior-Varanasi Bundelkhand Express, Jammu Tawi-Indore Malwa Express, Chennai-Guwahati Egmore Express, Nizamuddin-Indore Intercity Express, Indore-Gwalior Express, Mumbai-Varanasi Mahanagri Express, Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express and Kochuveli-Bangalore Express.
The problem of environmental degradation and corrosion of tracks has been a cause of major concern for Railways. Corrosion costs Railways more than Rs 350 crore every year.