The Railway Board has expressed concern over the large number of complaints received by the national transport company about smelly trains and station premises, an ET report quoted a senior government official as saying.
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“In order to address the high volume of complaints regarding odor detection on Rail Madad app, the Railway Board has recommended testing a new IoT-based technology for odor detectors,” the official was quoted as saying.
Don't we need stinky trains anymore?
The Railway Board has proposed testing IoT-based technologies, particularly odor detectors, to address this issue. Viliso Technologies, a Mumbai-based startup known for odor monitoring, was selected for the project. The technology will be tested on some passenger coaches (LHB and ICF designs) to assess its effectiveness and monitor in-car cleaning services.
Additionally, the new Vande Bharat sleeper trains will be the first AC category vehicles to be equipped with odorless toilet systems and hot water showers.
Also Read | Indian Railways' 100-day mega plan: Vande Bharat sleeper, bullet train, J&K rail projects including Chenab bridge and more – Know more
In addition to new technologies, traditional methods such as cleaning products are also being revisited. The Railroad Commission recommended evaluating Clonon concentrate, a cleaning product from Dimple Chemicals & Services, to combat odor-causing bacteria on trains, platforms and offices.
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Additionally, Indian Railways is considering revamping the water sprinkler system in trains to improve passenger convenience. A report by the Center for Advanced Maintenance Technology (CAMTECH) on the standardization of intermediate passenger car water supply systems points out that there is inadequate infrastructure for the movement of workers along the tracks during the water supply process. This concern was noted in an earlier report approved by the Railroad Commission.
CAMTECH proposes creating designated aisles for water injection staff to streamline the process and increase water injection time from 10 to 15 minutes per rake.
Despite these recommendations, some zonal railways are yet to implement these measures. The report highlights that water consumption on trains is increasing due to increased passenger numbers and recommends that trials be carried out to assess personnel and time requirements.
Vande Bharat sleeper is coming soon!
