Madurai division to engage private firms to clean coaches in long distance trains

MADURAI: Private firms would be engaged by the Madurai Division of Indian Raiilways at a cost of Rs 7.5 crore for on board cleaning of long distance trains as part of its comprehensive cleaning scheme, a top railway official said here today.

Four long distance trains, including those to Okhla in New Delhi, Howrah and Mumbai would be brought under the scheme from December this year, Divisional Railway Manager A K Rastogi told reporters here.

Referring to the proposed 'Swach Sharat cleanliness Campaign' to be launched on October 2, he said the Railways planned to build a water recycling plant to augment water supply for cleaning operations of coaches.

He said the high pressure water cleaning system was already successful and had saved 60 per cent water and if the Rs 90 lakh recycling plant was also in place, there would be enough water to clean coaches. The division would soon have its own laundry facility, he said.

The division also planned to install 10 lifts, including four in Madurai Junction, as some passengers were hesitant to use the escalator facility due to fear.

Besides RO water units would be installed in Dindigul, Palani, Tuticorin, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Madurai.