Page 14 - CIJ Aug 2024 - Digital Edition

NEWS TRACK

BOOT Laundries are high capex and long-
term projects which primarily require high-end
and best of the finishing equipment like Ironers
& Folders working at high steam temperatures
of +175 C ensuring high quality and crisp
0
finishing & folding. This is after the linen is
washed with approved good quality chemicals
in high-speed Washer extractors using steam of
about 90 C temperatures ensuring pollutants,
0
viruses, dirt & stains are removed and
eliminated. Blankets and Hand towels, post
washing, are dried in Tumble Dryers at high
temperature using steam.

“Further, use of steam recovery condensate,
sunlight harvesters, solar panels and water
recycling processes will not only be energy
saving measures, but also make these BOOT
Laundries environment friendly in-line with
Railways’ eco-friendly initiatives. All these
above features and technologies in a typical
Mechanised BOOT Laundry will ensure
passengers’ high-quality expectations on bedroll
& other linen items are met which will greatly
minimize complaints.”
Of late there has been an increase in
passenger complaints and deterioration of
quality of washed linen as majority of the
existing linen washing contracts are on
outsourced model wherein laundries are not
directly under the supervision of Railway
personnel and use of steam & chemicals cannot
be monitored. “These Laundries are typically
located in industrial & remote areas, far from
Railway Station or points of loading where
frequent or sudden inspections by Railway
personnel are a time-consuming affair.”
In a typical Railway BOOT Laundry,
nominated Railway personnel are always
present in the BOOT Laundry to ensure
qualitative & quantitative parameters of supply,
as per Contract conditions, are adhered to.
Further, these Laundries are located on Railway
premises close to the point of loading mitigating
any unforeseen logistics issues and conducive
for Senior Railway Officials for inspections.
Bedroll services on trains of Indian Railways
were suspended from 21st March 2020 due to
COVID-19 pandemic. The linen services were
restarted from mid of March 2022 after almost
a gap of two years, but Railway Board vide its
letter dated 8th September 2022 advised that
resumption of setting up of new Mechanised
Laundries on BOOT model was kept pending
till further orders.

AUGUST 2024•Clean India Journal
14 www.cleanindiajournal.com