Bio-vacuum toilets to be equipped in premier trains

All premier trains including semi-high speed trains will be equipped with bio-vacuum toilets as per the Railways' plan for cleanliness and upgraded passenger facilities.

The first bio-vacuum toilet developed by the Railways is being used in Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express currently as a pilot project.

The results are satisfactory and now it has been decided to install such toilets in premiuim trains and semi-high speed trains.

Besides, railways will continue with installing bio-toilets in other trains such as Mail/Express service.

Railways will provide 17,000 bio-toilets in trains and additional toilets at 475 stations across the country by March-end this year and has set a target of 30,000 bio-toilets in the next financial year.

As per plan all coaches will have bio-toilets in phased manner, said a senior Railway Ministry official.

One coach has four toilets and there are 50,000 coaches in the Railways.

Continuing with Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat Mission, 74 more trains have been added under On-board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) and another 400 are to be covered soon, leading to a total number of almost 1000 trains under the scheme.

The official said a lot of emphasis has been given for cleanliness at railway stations and in trains.

Anti-littering drive and Shramdaan initiatives of Railway personnel under the Swacch Rail programme have been launched at all zones across the country.