Solid waste management system in Indian Railways.

Abstract

Waste management and sanitation has always been a much-debated issue in Indian railways. Passenger perception about hygiene issues in running trains like in coaches, toilets is changing. Lately focus has been shifted towards cleanliness in rail travel and various initiatives have been taken by the ministry. Indian Railways covers about 67368 route Kms through urban, rural and forest areas. It carries 1 22.24 million passengers per day and operates 13329 passenger trains daily. Therefore effective system of housekeeping and sanitation is essential for sustained operation of railways. Indian Railways Generates around 640 tons per day of solid waste and 4000 tons of human excreta. Per capita waste generation is around 64 gm (solid waste). Although many systems have existed for a long time to ensure cleanliness in trains the impact was not as per the expectation. This paper has analyzed deficiencies existed in these systems. Comparison has been done with foreign railways standards and practices for waste management. Technical challenges for waste segregation and disposal as well as behavioral changes required in passengers for ensuring cleanliness have been discussed. Discussion has also been done regarding origins of toilets in Indian railways and development from open discharge toilets to bio vacuum toilets in recently launched train 18. Challenges associated with various systems of toilets and successive design and technological modifications have been analyzed. Successful stories of waste management from Indian cities have also been studied in this paper and an attempt has been done to emulate the best practices like door to door waste collection, spot fine, smart dustbins. For maintaining cleanliness of trains seat to seat waste collection can be introduced like in aircrafts. Spot fine can be introduced if passengers are found littering in trains. Smart dustbins which will send message to manager once its full. In order to ensure cleanliness in long term, integrated waste management has to be adopted which will link entire value chain of waste hierarchy starting from waste prevention to waste treatment and re use. This paper also highlights how waste prevention policy of railway can reduce 20% of waste generated by elimination plastic bottles. Private sector participation is also required to bring in efficiency and know-how for waste treatment and recycling.