Lok Sabha Question No. 6075 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-04-01
Subject: Railway Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Aditya Yadav

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6075 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.04.2026

## RAILWAY STATIONS

## 6075. SHRI ADITYA YADAV:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  agrees  with  the  view  that  all  major  railway stations in the country should implement automated waste segregation units,  self  cleaning  toilets  and  bio-waste  recycling  units  to  create  a hygienic transit environment and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  initiatives  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  that water conservation measures, rainwater harvesting and energyefficient  smart  lighting  will  also  contribute  to  sustainable  station operation; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

## ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (c): Indian Railways accord high priority to effective waste management  including  its  disposal  and  segregation,  water  conservation and energy efficiency in station operations. Various initiatives taken in this regard are as follows:-
- Provision of two bin type dustbins has been carried out at the major stations  for  segregation  of  bio-degradable  and  non-biodegradable waste, at source.
- Waste  collected  inside  trains  is  collected  and  disposed  in  garbage disposal  bags  at  designated  en-route  stations,  identified  for  waste disposal.

- Based  on  local  conditions,  feasibility  and  requirement,  tie-ups  for waste  disposal,  have  been  made  between  local  Railway  authorities and municipal bodies.
- Infrastructure like Sewage treatment plants (STPs), Effluent Treatment  plants  (ETPs)  has  been  installed  and  commissioned,  on need basis, at more than 200 stations over Indian Railways.
- Materials  Recovery  Facilities  (MRF),  where  non-compostable  solid waste can be temporarily stored to facilitate segregation, sorting and recovery of recyclables from various components of waste, have been set up.
- Zero discharge Bio-toilets have been fitted in all passenger coaches to  prevent  falling  of  fecal  matter  on  railway  tracks.  The  details  of provision of bio toilets are as under:
- Plastic  Bottle  Crushing  Machines  (PBCMs)  have  been  installed  at major stations as per requirement.
- For  efficient  and  economical  utilization  of  water  and  to  ensure systematic  approach  in  water  management,  'Indian  Railway  Water Policy' has been issued by Railway Board in 2017 wherein measurement and accountal of water consumption has been defined. Ministry  of  Railway  is  taking  steps  for  conservation  of  water  by minimizing the use of fresh water by conducting regular Water Audit at  major  consumption  centre  in  Railways  for  account  of  water  uses and  by  using  treated  water  from  Water  Recycling  Plants  (WRPs)  for other allied purpose (non potable uses).  Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) Systems  are  also  being  installed  in  Railway  and  have  been  made mandatory in all buildings.

| Period                   | Number of Bio-Toilet fitted   |
|--------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 2004-2014                | 9,587                         |
| 2014- Till February 2026 | 3,66,250                      |

- Water conservation measures such as water recycling and rainwater harvesting  are  also  considered  in  Environment  Management  Plan  of redevelopment of stations.
- Automatic  Coach  Washing  Plants  help  in  water  conservation  by recycling the used water.
- Indian Railways has issued guidelines for adoption of energy efficiency measures in non-traction over Indian Railways incorporating  various  aspects  related  to  energy  efficiency  including extensive use of sensor based and timer controlled lighting systems, automatic  30%-70%  platform  lighting  through  circuit  segregation linked  to  train  movements.  In  addition  to  this,  Indian  Railways  has already  achieved  100%  LED  lighting  across  its  offices,  Railway stations, service buildings and residential colonies.

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