Prototype Model for Waste Management in Running Trains ofIndia

Abstract

Indian Railways is the largest public sector undertaking in India but suffers from a major problem of inefficient waste management system. This is a problem of dry and wet waste generated inside the running train and around the railway tracks resulting in unhygienic trains and unclean railway tracks. Everyday nearly 23 million people travel in 7000 passengers trains inIndia. The area around the railway track in India is about 16000 kms which has never been cleaned. It is estimated that approximately 6289 tons of plastic finds its way into India’s railway tracks every day. This enormous generation of waste is leading to undesirable health issues besides environmental pollution. In this backdrop, in this project a prototype technological modelis being developed which can help to solve this problem. A smart dustbin is placed in each compartment of all the bogies in a train wherein both the dry and wet waste are collected, segregated and crushed. With the help of the belt conveyor, this crushed dry and wet waste is carried from all the compartments and bogies to the centralized bin of the train. This technological prototype model facilitates to manage the enormous dry and wet waste generated inside the running train effectively and efficiently. This will benefit the recycling industries to generate the revenue besides helping to keep the trains and railway tracks clean.