Railways plan laundry units to provide clean bedrolls

Flooded with increasing number of complaints against the supply of unhygienic linens in trains, the Railways are mulling to set up its own laundry units to deal with the situation.

"We are examining a proposal to set up state-of-the-art laundry units to provide clean bedsheets, blankets, pillow covers and towels in trains as part of the move to improve hygienic conditions," said a senior Railway Ministry official.

Zonal railways have been asked to improve the bedroll service in trains.

The Northern Railway is planning to set up laundries in Delhi and Lucknow regions and house them in railway land.

"The laundry units will be equipped with the latest system to clean, dry and iron about 32,000 linens, pillow covers and towels on a daily basis," said the official.

Currently, the cleaning exercise is being outsourced to private contractors.

"We are now constantly monitoring the supply of bedrolls in trains and several measures are being undertaken to improve the service," he said.

As a measure to check fire, the Railways are now procuring linens with fire retardant quality.

Shortly after taking over as the railway minister Mamata Banerjee had given instructions to authorities concerned to improve passenger amenities.

"We are also replacing our current blankets with light weight blankets which will occupy less storage space and will be easily washable," the official said.

It has also been decided to provide cushioned berths in second class coaches as a measure to extend comfort to passengers in non-reserved compartments.