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Asks all divisions to assess linen quality and readiness of laundries
In good news for railway BOOT laundries that have been lying idle for 20 months, the Indian Railways has indicated its readiness to restart linen services in trains. The Chief Rolling Stock Engineer of the Central Railways has asked all its divisions to prepare in the following manner:
- Availability of adequate linen based on present train service should be ensured.
- The stored line should be checked for foul smells and stains, and washed before being put back into service.
- Life of the linen for condemnation shall be extended for the unused period to curtail expenditure. However, it may be condemned if torn/mutilated.
- Departmental mechanised laundry should be checked and its proper functioning ensured.
- BOOT laundries should be checked for readiness to restart operations
- An action plan to achieve the above should be submitted by all divisions by 24th November.
Since the first lockdown of the pandemic, the Railways had suspended supply of passenger linen amid fear of the linen transmitting the coronavirus between passengers. This fear has been conclusively and scientifically proven as baseless, and it is high time passengers have access to basic amenities like linen.
