The Hindu Business Line : Developing cleaner toilets for Railways

When the Railway Minister, Mr Lalu Prasad, recently said that he would ensure clean toilets in trains like those in flights , he was banking on a research project that involves three premier institutes — RDSO, DRDO and IIT-Kanpur. The Minister's confidence on the issue is also driven by an Indian Railways tender on the issue, which is being firmed up.

Two methodologies

Primarily, there are two methodologies that are followed worldwide for human waste disposal in an environment-friendly manner in public transport. One involves collecting waste in a retention tank and discharging it at another terminal station later. The other, which is relatively new, uses bacteria to convert bio-waste mainly into water.

Research project

The Research Design and Standardisation Organisation (RDSO), Indian Railways' research arm, is working in close coordination with IIT-Kanpur and the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), to evolve indigenous technologies for the Railways based on the above two processes that would ensure clean waste disposal in trains.

On the technology that includes bacteria treatment, RDSO is being supported by DRDO. "The Defence is understood to have this kind of technology for use in Siachen glacier. But, our organisation, along with the Gwalior laboratory of DRDO, is developing the technology for use in trains where temperatures would be relatively higher," Mr A.K. Rao, Director General, RDSO, told Business Line.

Meanwhile, with IIT-Kanpur, RDSO is working on the "retention and evacuation" technology. "To prevent degradation and corrosion in rail tracks, RDSO is working on the retention technology with IIT Kanpur," explained Mr Rao, adding that they would have industry participation at the prototype stage of the project.

Tender being finalised

The Railways is also "in the advanced stages" of finalising a tender that would involve setting up 80 (imported) toilets in a train based on bacteria treatment methodology for a pilot project, according to senior Ministry officials. Meanwhile, for the "retention and evacuation" method, Railways is in informal talks with prospective suppliers to have the ground evacuation facilities in place. The research projects are being funded through Technology Mission for Railways, which includes 50 per cent funding by the Human Resource Development Ministry, 30 per cent by the Railways and 20 per cent by industry, said Mr Rao.

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Developing cleaner toilets for Railways