Mumbai: Soon, expect cleaner trains and linen

Devraj Dasgupta
[ 5 Sep, 2006 0137hrs IST TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

MUMBAI: Long-distance travellers boarding mail or express trains from Mumbai may be in for cleaner, stench-free journeys if the Indian Railways gets a couple of new plans on track.

The railways propose to have a single contractor to provide on-board cleaners, linen and food for each journey. The railways are also planning a central laundry facility at Wadi Bunder, which should be running within a year's time, to ensure cleaner linen.

R D Sharma, group general manager of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), West, said the railways are introducing a 'Comprehensive On-Board Maintenance' policy.

"A single contractor will supply food, linen and provide cleaners for the upkeep of trains throughout the trip," he said.

The railways expect the private on-board cleaners will keep the interiors of trains cleaner than departmental staff, who don't travel with the train and do cleaning only at major stations.

Officials also feel that dealing with a single contractor for various services would increase accountability and reduce multi-point dealings for passengers.

As for linen, long-distance trains leaving Mumbai require more than 20,000 bedsheets, pillows, hand towels and blankets a day.

All these are provided by the railways on special trains like the Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express. But on the remaining trains, private contractors supply the linen.

The railways have got complaints from passengers about dirty linen. Moreover, sometimes, supply has fallen short of the demand.

To ensure cleaner linen, the IRCTC has decided to come up with a jumbo laundry at Wadi Bunder on P D'Mello Road. It would get all dirty railway linen in Mumbai washed at one place instead of leaving the job to the individual contractors.

Sharma said the proposed laundry would be run by an experienced dry cleaning firm from Mumbai.

"We will soon float tenders inviting parties to construct and operate the jumbo washing machines as seen in western countries," said Sharma. The land for the laundry, admeasuring 15,000 sq ft, is being made available by the CR to IRCTC, he said.