First Green Train of East Coast Railway from Bhubaneswar

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) flagged off its first green train Rameswaram Express from Bhubaneswar to Rameswaram via Visakhapatnam on Friday.

It has all its 23 coaches fitted with bio-toilets.

The train is a good initiative towards advertizing Swachh Bharat Mission, said an ECoR official.

Green toilet aims at zero defecation on the ground. It is environment-friendly and prevents damages to the tracks due to corrosion. Stinking toilets have become a thing of the past.

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The Indian Railway started to operate Green Trains after several towns were declared open defecation free (ODF). Since Rameswaram is a designated ODF place, the ECoR had to get its act together to convert Rameswaram Express into a Green Train.

There are no chances of ploliferation of cockroaches and flies. Effluent is free from odour. There is no need to remove solid waste, said an ECoR release.

However, on the flip side, if garbage is disposed into these toilets, it can lead to congestion. The ECoR sources said personnel are being trained to face the challenges.

Interestingly, the ECoR will have its task cut out since Puri could soon get an ODF tag and if that happens, the Indian Railway will have to convert a number of trains into Green Trains.

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