Kochi: Major long distance trains operating from the state have started featuring bio-toilets in large numbers, thanks to an initiative by divisional authorities for converting half the toilets in coaches to bio-toilets.
“With a view to accelerate the setting up of bio-toilets in trains from the division, we have decided to convert two of the four toilets in coaches into bio-toilets when they are sent for periodic overhauling (mandatory maintenance works carried out every nine months),” said Thiruvananthapuram divisional railway manager Sunil Bajpai.
As of now, a total of 279 coaches in the division feature the facility (half bio-toilets) besides the two ‘Green’ trains -- the Ernakulam-Okha Express (T. No 16338) and the Kochuveli-Bangalore (T. No 16316) Express.
The challenge before the authorities, though, is to maintain the bio-toilets in long-distance trains like Kerala Express where passengers ignore warnings and dispose of bottles, plastic refuse and napkins among others which blocks the facility.
“We are carrying out an awareness programme against this. A hardware model of a bio-toilet is displayed at the Thiruvananthapuram Central station to explain the functioning of bio-toilets and how dumping wastes can defeat the purpose,” said a senior official.
The conventional open discharge on tracks poses a threat of infections besides causing corrosion of railway tracks. In bio-toilets, a tank collects human waste which is treated with bacteria and converted into gases and water before being emptied at host stations.
Meanwhile, the Railways has launched another ‘Go Green’ initiative to stop the practice of pasting of reservation charts on trains. It was implemented on the Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express from Tuesday.
