High tech laundries

Indian Railways plans high-tech laundries

11 October 2012

Indian Railways plans to set up automated laundries at two depots to improve the quality of linen being provided to passengers, according to a report in The Times of India.

Under the “BOOT” (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) model, North Central Railway will establish laundries at Gwalior and Allahabad.

The laundries will be capable of handling large volumes of linen and will be designed to make efficient use of water, power, steam and chemicals. They will be equipped with a hydraulic press to give maximum water extraction, to minimise the energy needed for drying and ironing.

The finished linen sets will be packed in environmental friendly bags and the contractor will supply the washed linen sets to coach attendants at the platforms.

Details of the laundry operators are yet to announced but a private agency will set up the service and operate it for ten years. At the end of this period ownership will transfer to Indian Railways under the BOOT scheme

It is estimated that the Gwalior laundry will cost around Rs9.14crores for ten years (US$2.08million).