After CAG rap, Indian Railways to remove one toilet each from 40,000 coaches to create space

IndiaChandan KumarAug, 04 2017 

Indian Railways has decided to remove one toilet each from over 40 thousand coaches citing space constraints. As per reports, the Indian Railways lacks sufficient space to keep food trays and beverages in train coaches. They are generally kept in the vestibule near the toilet area, which not only is a health hazard but also unclean, CNN-News18reported.

Representational image. AFP

The move comes amid a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pointing out railway's shoddy treatment towards its passengers, neglecting their health and hygiene.

As per the plan, the free space created by removing the toilet will be used by railway caterers.

The railways on 13 June had launched an ambitious retro-fitment mission. Under this project, 40,000 old coaches will be refurbished and retrofitted in the next five years with several added safety and security features.

Sources told News18 that the extra space created by removing the toilet will be used to keep catering materials and bedrolls. What this means is that now every coach will have three toilets instead of the customary four.

Currently, railways uses close to 5,000 new generation Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches. These German technology coaches are more safer than traditional Integral Coach Factory (ICF) manufactured coaches. Additionally, the LHB coaches have extra space for catering, something which the ICF coaches lacks. The railways has also decided to stop manufacturing ICF coaches completely by 2017.

Earlier, a railway coach used to carry two toilets, which in 1970 got increased to four after a recommendation by the then Passenger Services Committee.