Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Railways addressed concerns regarding biotoilet installation in trains. All passenger-carrying mainline coaches with toilets are now equipped with biotoilets to eliminate direct discharge of human waste, improve hygiene, and prevent corrosion. Awareness campaigns are conducted during the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to educate passengers about proper biotoilet usage and prevent clogging. This has significantly improved cleanliness and safety across railway tracks and stations.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Biotoilet Implementation:**
* Indian Railways has adopted a zero-discharge biotoilet system for coaches to eliminate human waste discharge.
* All passenger-carrying mainline coaches with toilets are now equipped with biotoilets.
* Biotoilet installation has prevented corrosion of rail fittings.
* Number of Biotoilets fitted: 2004-2014: 9,587 and 2014-2025: 3,33,191.
* **Awareness and Maintenance:**
* Awareness campaigns are launched during the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to educate passengers about biotoilet usage.
* Informative stickers and notices with usage instructions are placed inside toilets.
* Dustbins are provided in all coach toilets to encourage proper waste disposal.
* Video clips and audio announcements highlighting usage instructions are broadcasted via Public Announcement Systems.
* On Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) and Clean Train Stations (CTS) services are provided for en route maintenance.
* Maintenance of coaches, including biotoilets, is carried out at Coaching Depots/Terminals according to prescribed guidelines.
* **Outcomes:**
* Full-scale deployment of biotoilets has improved cleanliness across railway tracks and stations.
* The foul smell associated with human waste is no longer prevalent.
* Enhanced safety of rolling stock and rail tracks due to the elimination of human waste.
* Improved quality in maintenance work.
Impact Analysis:
* **Passengers:**
* *Impact:* Experience cleaner and more hygienic train travel.
* *Action Required:* Use biotoilets correctly, dispose of waste in provided dustbins, and adhere to usage guidelines.
* **Indian Railways:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the installation, maintenance, and upkeep of biotoilets across the rail network.
* *Action Required:* Continue biotoilet maintenance, conduct regular awareness campaigns, and monitor the effectiveness of the implemented measures.
* **Maintenance Staff:**
* *Impact:* Improved working conditions due to cleaner rail tracks and rolling stock, ensuring better maintenance quality.
* *Action Required:* Adhere to detailed guidelines and prescribed standards for maintaining coaches and biotoilets.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The government ministry responsible for railways in India, answering questions in Lok Sabha.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding biotoilets was raised.
SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI: One of the Members of Parliament who raised the question about biotoilets.
SHRI MOHIBBULLAH: One of the Members of Parliament who raised the question about biotoilets.
Ashwini Vaishnaw: The Minister of Railways, Information Broadcasting and Electronics Information Technology, who provided the answer to the question.
Indian Railways: The railway company of India responsible for the installation and maintenance of biotoilets in trains.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: A nationwide cleanliness campaign in India, during which awareness campaigns about biotoilets are launched.
On Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS): A service provided on trains to maintain cleanliness, including the upkeep of biotoilets.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2920
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025
BIO-TOILETS INSTALLED IN TRAINS
2920 SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI:
SHRI MOHIBBULLAH:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the number of bio-toilets installed in trains across the
Country, classified by the type of train service;
(b) whether the Government has set any targets for the
installation of bio-toilets in trains during the current
financial year;
(c) if so, the details thereof including targets, categories and
zone-wise and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) whether the Government has put in place any interim
mechanism to prevent open defecation on railway tracks
from trains which are yet to be fitted with bio-toilets;
(e) if so, the details of such mechanisms/initiatives and if not,
the reasons therefor;
(f) whether the Government has launched any awareness
campaigns to promote the use of trash receptacles in train
washrooms to prevent the clogging of bio-toilets due to
non-biodegradable waste; and(g) if so, the details thereof including the modes of
dissemination and coverage of such campaigns?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a). to (g) To eliminate direct discharge of human waste onto
Railway tracks and for improving hygiene and cleanliness, zero
discharge Bio-toilet system has been adopted by Indian Railways
for coaches. The work has been taken up in mission mode by
Indian Railways.
At present, all passenger carrying mainline coaches equipped
with toilets have been provisioned with Bio-toilets. This has also
prevented corrosion of Rail Fittings due to Human waste.
The details of provision of Bio-toilets (as on 30.06.2025) are as
under:
Period No. of Bio-Toilets fitted
2004-14 9,587 only
2014-25 3,33,191 (More than 34 times)
In order to ensure proper functionality of bio-toilets, awareness
campaign is launched during “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” every
year to sensitize all passengers about the cleanliness of coach
and toilets.
Additionally, following actions are also being taken to generate
awareness among passengers regarding bio-toilets functionalityand cleaning to prevent clogging due to non-biodegradable
waste:
Informative stickers and notices are placed inside toilets
with Do’s and Don’ts activities i.e. not to throw the
garbage/plastic bottles etc. in Bio-Toilets.
Dustbins have been provided in all the toilets of Coaches to
encourage proper disposal of waste.
Video clips and Audio announcement highlighting Bio-
toilets usage instructions are broadcasted through Public
Announcement System.
To facilitate the upkeep of the coaches during run On Board
Housekeeping Service (OBHS) and Clean Train Stations
(CTS) services are also provided for en-route attention.
Maintenance of coaches including Bio-Toilets is carried at
Coaching Depots/Terminals in line with laid out detailed
guidelines and prescribed standards.
Cleanliness is an ongoing process and Indian Railways make
continuous efforts to keep trains well maintained and clean.
Full scale deployment of bio-toilets in coaches has resulted in a
paradigm shift in the level of cleanliness across railway tracks
and especially at railway stations, where the foul smell/sight
associated with human waste is not being felt/seen any more.
This has also resulted in enhanced safety of rolling stock and rail
tracks as lack of human waste/spatters on rail tracks/under-
gears of rolling stock ensure quality in maintenance work.
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