Konkan Railway has become the first Railway in the country to install bio-toilets at Chiplun and Kankawali stations. To promote green solutions and provide eco-friendly transport solutions, Railways have earlier installed bio toilets in trains. The technology developed by DRDO in an MOU signed with the Indian Railways in 2010, is cheaper and easier to install as compared to regular RCC toilets.
These toilets use technology that is 100% maintenance-free and allows complete elimination of pathogens without requiring the night soil to be disposed through sewage line and septic tank.
The Bio-Digester is charged initially with anaerobic bacterial inoculums and no further charging is required if the bio-toilet is in regular use. The bio-degradation of the night soil leads to generation of bio-gas which can be utilised for cooking purpose. The odour-less water extracted after bio-degradation can be used for irrigation of gardens.