Rlys to have 100% bio-toilets by 2019

The Railways will have 100 % bio-toilets by next year that will make tracks safe and eliminate defecation on the rail lines, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal informed the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

So far around 60% of the railway coaches have been fitted with bio-toilets. The work on the remaining coaches is going on expeditiously and it will be completed by 2019, the minister said.

Goyal said this will completely eliminate defecation on the tracks, which is not only unhygienic but affects rail safety because the uric acid damages tracks, causing accidents.

He said work was on the retro-fit additional vacuum-assisted flushing units in these toilets have been developed with help of the DRDO under the 'Make In India' drive instead of importing them.