At a time when the Indian Railways are looking at replacing the bio-toilets with vacuum toilets --- ones used inside aircrafts --- at a cost of Rs 6,250 crore, they are bogged down by the stink being raised by bio-toilets.
In a bid to remove the foul smell in toilets, the Railway Board has asked for vital changes to be made in ventilation and basic function of bio-toilets inside trains between May and August.
The Indian Railways have already mandated bio-vacuum toilets in the new LHB coaches as a replacement to bio-toilets. However, every train's bio-toilet will also have active inoculums — responsible for breaking down human faeces — in tanks.
One of the biggest reasons for smelly toilets is that the openings have been closed and as such ventilation needs to be improved by several notches.
Changes in coaches — both LHB and conventional ones — too has been proposed for better ventilation. For this, the existing exhaust blower fans' speeds will be augmented from the present 450 CMH to 650 CMH. Even the fixed window of the lavatory will be replaced with louvres to improve air circulation.
All trains also have a new system called venturi ventilation, which was first tested in South East Central Railway in August 2018. This will help in reducing cases of choked toilets and also ensure that air flows through the drain pipes and eliminates odour. Sources said that Central Railway will have the venturi ventilation in all its coaches by June this year, while Western Railway will have it installed by August.
"What is needed is adequate flushing and cleaning, particularly in the neck and other inaccessible areas. For this, sufficient water is needed in tanks and should be refilled enroute," said a senior railway official.
Moreover, to improve cleanliness, the on-board housekeeping staff will be given better tools, equipment and chemicals to clean the neck and other inaccessible areas of toilet drains. Senior railway officials said that they will also be replacing the drain pipe from 'P-trap' to 'S-trap' for better flushing and discharge of faecal matter.
Earlier in April, there was a meeting on the same lines where the Railway Board officials asked every railway zone to carry out remedial measures for removing foul smells from train toilets. Also, a circular was sent to every railway zone — including Central and Western Railways — a copy of which is with DNA. The railways have also blamed passengers for throwing paper, cloth, gutka packets, etc in thetoilets.
