Lok Sabha Question No. 394 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Lack of cleanliness of Bedding in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Kuldeep Indora

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 394

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## LACK OF CLEANLINESS OF BEDDING IN TRAINS

## 394. SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is lack of cleanliness of bedding provided by the railways to its passengers;
- (b) if so, the measures being taken by the Government to ensure passenger comfort and safety by providing clean bedding;
- (c) whether  woollen  blankets  are  washed  only  once  a  month  while  the passengers  are paying for bedding that meets  the basic hygiene standards; and
- (d) if  so,  the  steps being taken to replace heavy woollen blankets with the lighter and easy to maintain alternatives?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  to (d) Indian Railways make every endeavour to provide clean, hygienic, well  ironed  good  quality  linen/bedrolls  to  all  passengers  travelling  in  air conditioned (AC) sleeper classes by using latest state-of-the-art technology for good passenger experience. Linen provided to the passengers during train journey  is  washed  in  mechanised  laundries/  washing  facilities  after  every single  use.  Some  of  the  measures  taken  by  Indian  Railways  to  ensure passenger  comfort  and  safety  by  providing  clean  bedrolls  are  enumerated below :-

-  Procurement  of  new  linen  sets  is  carried  out  with  improved  BIS specifications that have tighter tolerances to ensure better quality.
-  Mechanized laundries have been set up to ensure supply of clean and hygienic linen sets.
-  Standard  machines  and  reputed  specified  chemicals  are  used  for washing of linen items.
-  Monitoring of linen washing activities in the laundry premises is done by CCTVs and Railway staff. Regular checks by officers are also conducted ensuring hygienic linen.
-  Whito-meters are used to check the quality of washed linen items.
-  Codal life of linen items has been  reduced  from  the  previously prescribed duration to allow for quicker induction of fresh linen items.
-  War-rooms have been established at zonal Head-quarters and divisional levels  to  monitor/prompt  action  on  complaints  lodged  on  Rail  madad portal including complaints on linen/bedroll.
-  Eco-friendly packaging of bedrolls.
-  Improved logistics for storing, transportation, loading and unloading of linen/bedrolls at station and on trains.
-  Reservation  against  cancellation  (RAC)  passengers  are  also  provided with complete  linen set at par with other bone-fide  passengers travelling in the coach.

Blankets provided to passengers during train journey are washed at least once in a month. An additional bed sheet is also provided in bedroll kit to the passengers for using it as a cover of blankets provided.

The blankets used in Indian Railways, as per current specifications, are lighter,  easy  to  wash  and  provide  good  insulation  to  passengers  for  overall comfortable journey experience.

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