Visakhapatnam: Introduction of purified water vending machines that dispense chilled potable water at affordable rates has led to a dramatic dip in sale of bottled drinking water and generation of plastic waste at the city railway station.
Railway passengers can avail water purified through reverse osmosis (RO) at Rs1 for 300 ml, Rs 3 for 500 ml, Rs 5 for 1 litre and Rs 8 for two litres if they carry their own bottle. Empty bottles are also available with the machine operators.
The initiative is receiving good response as it provides chilled clean water at Rs 5 per litre while the bottled water of various brands varies from Rs 17 to Rs 20 per litre.
It is also helping the people to go green as they are seen reusing the water bottle to fetch water from the vending machines, instead of dumping them after use.
When asked about the response, V Simhachalm, who operates a water vending machine at Platform No. 1 said, “It is a big hit. When trains arrive at the station, the rush is so huge that we are unable to cope.”
