Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad Yadav in his ambitious budget has chalked out massive expansion plans with an eye on cleanliness and sanitation. Discharge from toilets of trains on the run is a primary cause for poor sanitation at stations. Several designs of discharge free Green Toilets were developed to address this problem. Results of trials done so far have been extremely encouraging. Thus, the plan has made provision for installing Green Toilets in all 36000 coaches by the end of the 11th Plan period at a cost of र 4000 cr.
Presently, four Shatabdi and four Rajdhani trains are running with LHB (Linke-Hoffmann-Busch) Polish-designed coaches. These coaches are equipped with all modern facilities for ensuring comfort in travel. By March 2010 all Rajdhani trains and by March 2011 balance Shatabdi trains will be provided with LHB coaches.
LHB coaches in stainless steel will be provided in Mail and Express trains besides Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains. These coaches have a longer life and require less maintenance. The stainless steel coaches will also be provided with ergonomically designed Modular toilets that they will have better arrangements for cleanliness and hygiene, water discharge, air circulation and illumination.
The Annual Plan of 2008-09 is the highest ever annual plan of the railways. It is proposed to invest र 37,500 crores, which is 21% more than the previous year. The total budgetary support to be received from General exchequer is र 7874 crores, including र 774 crores to be provided from Central Road Fund.
The four major stations in the four metro cities would be redesigned with shopping arcade and eateries giving them a commercial edge and an international class. An estimated budget of र 225 crores has already been earmarked for the purpose. With huge expansion plans, the cleaning industry has a big job waiting at the Railways in years to come.
