The Bilaspur Railway has installed industrial laundry system to process an average 33
00 kg of linen per day to cover all primary trains originating from Bilaspur coaching depot. The mechanised laundry was inaugurated by Kanta Kumar, President-SECRWWO in December 2012. Also present on the occasion was Arunendra Kumar, General Manager, SECR/Bilaspur.
Speaking to Clean India Journal, Sr DME-Bilaspur, Lalit Dhurandher said, “Quality of linen supplied to passengers traveling in AC coaches is one of the major sources of passenger’s complaints. There was tremendous improvement in management of linen after the work was shifted from Commercial to Mechanical department in April 2010, but still expectations of passengers were not met out. Need for in-house laundry was felt and the experience of Wadi Bunder, Central Railway proved to be a success.”
Work for setting up of mechanised laundry was sanctioned in 2009-10 under PH-53, at a cost of र 96.95 lakh. Building of size 33m x 11m was not available hence another work for the same including some M&Ps was sanctioned in 2010-11 at a cost र 83.84 lakh. Open tender for supply, installation and commissioning of laundry equipment was first opened January 2011 but could not be finalised due to technical reasons. Second time tender was opened on September 2011 and was awarded to P&K Scientific Products Lucknow.
Mechanized laundry set up at Bilaspur consists of two high speed industrial washer cum extractor with a capacity 60kg/cycle with cycle time of 45min; two tumbler driers of 30 kg/hr with cycle time of 45min; two flat work ironer of length 3000mm x diameter 500mm); dry cleaning machine with 12kg capacity for blankets; steam boiler with 600kg/hr capacity and operating temperature of 1840 C; water softening plant with 5 cu. m/hr capacity and also an ETP with 50 KL/day capacity. The set up was opened up in December after regular trial.
