Bio-toilets for Indian railway coaches

Tiruchirapalli, Jul 2 (UNI) The Railway Ministry has decided to convert the traditional toilets in 34,000 railway coaches into control discharged and Bio-toilets during the 11th Five Year Plan at an estimated cost of Rs 4000 crore, according to Union Minister of state for Railways R Velu.

Addressing a press conference after inspecting the Golden Rock railway workshop here today, he said in order to provide environment friendly atmosphere in the railway premises and in rail coaches, the Ministry had taken this decision.

Initially, the proposed convertion work would be entrusted to Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai and Rail Coach Factory (RCF) at Kapurthala. The work would be completed in four to five years time, he added.

He said the Indian Railways had already introduced the Control discharge and Bio-toilet systems in seven select trains, including the Rajdhani Express and the feedback on their working was satisfactory.

He said it also proposed to convert the vacuum break system of two lakh wagons into air break system during the 11th Plan period.

He said the Ministry had taken a policy decision to increase the electrification network in the Indian Railways from the existing 25 per cent electrification to the maximum level.

He said during the 10th Plan period, the Railways had planned to electrify another 2500 km, but last year alone electrification over about 1400 KM was completed.

He said the electrification works would be taken up in all the trunk routes and golden quadrilateral road connecting areas. In Tamil Nadu, he said the electrification work would be taken up between Madurai and Tuticorin and Maniyachi and Nagercoil at a cost of Rs 166 crore. Apart from this, all the missing lines, namely Villupuram-Katpadi, Mettupalayam-Coimbatore , Shoranur and Mangalore sections would also be taken up for electrification work shortly, he added.

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