Plastic ban: Paper glasses to be introduced at railway stations in Mumbai

Following the plastic ban, the railway authorities have decided to replace plastic glasses with paper glasses across the suburban trains and stations in the city. The paper glasses will be introduced for the water vending machines, catering stalls and inside long distance trains, making a huge impact on the lives of 79 lakh commuters who travel by the suburban railways every day.

The stations and its surrounding areas have become dumping grounds with the accumulation of tonnes of litter which mostly consist of plastic wastes mixed with silt and muck. The pollution demands an instant clean-up, hence the move comes into play.

"We are planning to replace the plastic glasses with paper glasses. We will follow the law of land and shall implement it accordingly," confirmed A Malkhede, Group General Manager (Western region) of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.

There are around 200 water vending machines (WVMs) that have been installed in the suburban stations of Mumbai which allows one to either fill water in thier own bottles or use plastic glasses.

Re 1 is charged for 300ml water if one is filling a bottle whereas Rs 2 is charged if one opts for a plastic glass. Similarly, filling a 1-litre bottle from WVM will cost Rs 5 while using a plastic bottle will cost Rs 8.

The charges are lower than the packaged drinking water bottles available in shops, thereby increasing the demand for water from the WVM due to its cost-effectiveness.

Each WVM has a capacity to hold 200-400 litres of water and approximately contains 300-500 plastic glasses.

Sources in the Central Railway said that they will tread along the same lines as they are mulling to implement similar changes. "We have time till June as the deadline for the plastic ban. We are in the process of replacing the plastic glasses, wafer covers and everything that is being banned," said a senior rail official.

WATER VENDING MACHINES

200 Number of WVMs in Mumbai rail stations

79 lakh Daily commuters

300-500 Plastic glasses stored at WVMs

Rs 2 Cost of the sale of water using plastic glass

DIRTY STATIONS

• The stations and its surrounding areas have become dumping grounds with the accumulation of tonnes of litter 
   
• Most of the litter consist of plastic wastes mixed with silt and muck, requiring an instant clean up
   
• The Central Railways have said that they will introduce the move in accordance with the laws laid out by the government