TOILETS IN TRAIN

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 If you think that the  train compartments are having toilets since the inception of this top transport means, you are wrong. The Indian Railways was started by the colonial rulers in 1853. Then there was no facility for easing out and passengers, particularly of long distances had to go through untold embarrassments. It was in 1893 when on complaints from the passengers, toilets were provided, to start with only in first class coaches. It took nearly another one decade for this convenience to be available for commoners in other second and third class coaches.

But this crude toilet was making the track and platform dirty and stinking. Many attempts were made for improvement but of no avail. It is a matter of great happiness for the commuters that nearly after 160 years of its start, the railway authorities have embarked on an ambitious project of providing very hygienic and scientific bio-toilets. The visitors, coming to the Sulabh International Museum of Toilets, often enquire about toilets in planes and trains. Here, in brief, the functioning of bio-toilet is being explained. After a prolonged joint research by the railways and the DRDO, a formula was evolved. The scientists visited Antartica regions and collected anaerobic bacteria, surviving there. They took it to the cold of Siachin and heat of Rajasthan and found the bacteria sustaining these acute climatic conditions. Thus the research and experiment were successfully completed.

These bio-toilets are installed underneath the coach floor near lavatories. Human waste is discharged into them where a mass of the said bacteria act upon. As a result, the human waste is converted into water and a small amount of gases (methane and CO2). The gases escape into atmosphere and water after clorination is discharged on the track below. Naturally this water does not stay on the track. Thus it is good for the track, platform and the cleaning railway staff as well.

The first train with bio-toilet was Gwalior-Varanasi-Bundelkhand Express which steamed off in Jan 2011. By now, 3,748 coaches have been provided with bio-toilets and with the accelerated pace, it is hoped that cent-percent success wil not be far away. The stinking platforms and tracks will be an experience of the past.