Sriharsha G and Wijai RJ, mechanical engineering students of MVJ College of Engineering, have come up with a solution to the stink and health threat posed by train toilets.
The two, who used to travel by train every day from Bangarpet to Bangalore to attend the college, had suffered because of unhygienic toilets in trains. They vowed to do their bit in flushing out the problem. So, as part of their study, they came up with an idea to create a new system to for safe disposal of toilet waste from trains.
“The present day toilet disposal system in Indian Railways poses a health threat to passengers as well as to those moving around railway stations, level crossings and roads under bridges as the human excreta directly falls on the railway tracks,” said Wijai.
The system consists of a specially designed tank with two hoses connected to the lavatory chute as inlet from two adjacent toilets through which excreta and urine are collected. There is a single outlet with open/close mechanism through which waste is disposed. Such tanks could be fitted to all toilets in trains.
The tank’s outlet will be in closed position and opens only at particular places automatically. These tanks will be opened after reaching specially constructed drainage pits under the tracks, where discharge of waste and water will take place. These pits should be built in selected places far away from human inhabitation at least 100 km to 150 km apart. This type of toiletry system is maintenance-free, cost effective and easy to implement.
“When we put forth this idea, many were apprehensive. We were told we should come up with more conventional ideas. Even through the process, we had tough times during the fabrication but we overcame them,” said Wijai, adding they had been working on the project for the past eight months.
“The initial investment is high. But it will solve the problem,” said Chandrasekhar GM, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the college.
The duo has sent in an application to patent the product and will then look at approaching railway designers in Bangalore.
