Mumbai: In a first on Indian
Railways, Western Railway will tie up with the
prison industry of the state to provide high quality linen to passengers of long-distance trains.
The pilot project will kick-off on or before October 2.
The Mumbai-Jaipur Superfast express (12955)will be the first train to have sourced product from
Yerawada prison industry.
WR’s divisional railway manager Mukul Jain said, “It is our aim to support the reformist practice of the prison department to train these prisoners so that they can assimilate in the main stream.”
He added, “Around 1,600 bed sheets and pillow covers will be sourced.”
Currently, two identical bed sheets are allotted per berth—one to spread on the berth and another to use as cover.
He said, “In the linen sourced from prison industry, the size of one of the sheets (used for spreading on the berth) has been reduced in length so that it does not touch the floor. This will result in saving of fabric by 37%.”
Against the current cost of Rs 169 per bed sheet, the prison industry product would cost Rs 161.
If successful, it will be extended to other trains, including Rajdhani and Duronto. WR said that if the product quality is good, it may give orders for office stationary products, furniture and lockers.
Additional divisonal railway manager (ADRM) Saurabh Prasad who had visited the prison in Yerawada said, “We are impressed with the quality of the product. In fact, major corporates from automobile industry too have sourced work to prison.”