Eco-friendly toilets in Prayagraj Express

NEW DELHI: As part of its efforts to provide eco-friendly toilets at stations and in trains, the Railways has equipped one of its trains with septic tanks that use bacteria to convert wastes into a harmless and odourless liquid.

Since May 17, toilets in AS-2 coach of the Delhi- Allahabad Prayagraj Express have been fitted with the septic tanks that use a special bacteria to turn wastes into a "harmless, colourless and odourless liquid" that is allowed to trickle away and evaporate, a senior railway official told.

It was basically a "biotech" project as Railways was trying to find a more hygiene way of getting rid of biological wastes in an environment-friendly manner, he said.

The pilot project is being implemented in one of the 25 coaches of the Prayagraj Express by the Railway Research and Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with Microphor of the United States and Aikon Technology of India.

Under the Biotech scheme, the wastes are collected in a stainless steel tank divided into two sections. The first contains a patented man-made bacterial culture that breaks down wastes by enzyme action.

The resulting liquid, mostly water and entirely free of pathogens, is led into the second section where it is purified by chlorine and other chemicals before dispersal.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has already announced introduction of eco-friendly coaches with modern toilets on the line of airlines to keep trains and stations clean. Railways have announced the 2007 as "Clean Railway Year".