East Coast Railway (ECoR) has taken different initiatives towards containing environmental pollution. Starting from Cleanliness Drives to establish different pollution control activities, Indian Railways as a whole and East Coast Railway in particular have taken different measures to control the pollution and ensure a pollution-free environment.
Indian Railways is working in mission mode to become the largest Green Railways in the world and is moving towards becoming a “net zero carbon emitter” before 2030. Railways is guided by a holistic vision of being an environment friendly, efficient, cost-effective, punctual and modern carrier of passengers as well as the freight in order to serve the growing needs of New India. IR is looking at helping the environment from its biggest to the smallest steps ranging from massive electrification, day-to-day water & paper conservation to saving animals from being injured on Railway tracks. The following measures showcase how IR has adopted Environment Conservation in its daily work:
Apart from the provision of bio-toilets in trains, provision of Plastic Bottle Crushing Machines at important Stations, regular cleanliness drives in Trains & Station premises; East Coast Railway is now gearing up to further improve its system for ecosystem restoration.
The Initiatives taken by East Coast Railway are as follows…
Pollution Control measures at Railway Sidings:
East Coast Railway has taken measures for Pollution Control at Railway Sidings over its jurisdiction. These initiatives are provision of Boundary Walls, Water Sprinklers to protect dust, Drainage System, Effluent Treatment Plants, etc., at the major Railway sidings at Porjanpur, Goaldih, Daitari, Nayagarh, Rajatgarh, Goldhihi, Nirgundi & Sukinda Stations.
Automatic Coach Washing Plants at Puri and Visakhapatnam Coaching Depots have been provided. The Automatic Coach Washing Plant is equipped with a captive Effluent treatment plant where the used water is treated and the final discharge from the ETP meets the environmental norms. The plant utilizes less water compared to manual washing resulting into a savings of huge million litres of freshwater every year.
09 Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) have been provided at Coaching Depots at Puri, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam along with Carriage Repair Workshop at Mancheswar and also at Divisional Hospitals at Khurda Road and Central Hospital at Mancheswar. These Plants will treat the water for its repeated use, thereby conserving the precious water.
Pole hanging twin dustbins
Pole-hanging twin dustbins have been provided at various Railway Stations over East Coast Railway jurisdiction as part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
Sewerage & Water Treatment Plants
Nine Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) have been installed at various places over ECoR jurisdiction. One each at Central Hospital at Mancheswar and Divisional Railway Hospital at Sambalpur has been provided apart from 02 each at Divisional Hospitals at Visakhapatnam and Khurda Road and also 2 at Visakhapatnam Railway Station. Sewerage Treatment Plants at Vizianagaram and Sambalpur Railway Stations are under completion. Six more STPs have been approved by Ministry and will be provided shortly at important places over ECoR. Similarly, Water Treatment Plants have been provided at many places over ECoR including one at Rail Kunj.
Rain Water Harvesting Pits
Rain Water Harvesting Pits have been provided at more than 100 places all over ECoR during the last 4 years to improve Ground Water Level.
Solid Waste Management Measures
On a move to Solid Waste Management, East Coast Railway has taken various steps at different places over ECoR and Provision of Compost Plants at Sambalpur, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Rayagada Railway Stations have been initiated. Nine more are under procurement for installation at various places. These apart, provision of Biogas plants have been provided at Coaching Depots at Puri, Cuttack, and Bhubaneswar along with other important places and Stations over ECoR. MRF & Vermi Compost facility has been provided at Simanchalam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Rayagada stations to segregate the waste and ensure its’ logical disposal – Similar provision at nine more Stations are under process.
Plastic Bottle Crushing Machine
Use of plastic bags is considered as one of the great issues that humans are facing in their modern life. Plastic bags are harmful to human health. Some chemicals from plastic bags disrupt the normal functioning of hormones in the body, chemicals affect health and it develops cancers or other major diseases. Plastic Below 50% has been banned in Railway Stations. Plastic Bottle Crushing Machines have been provided at all 20 major stations over ECoR. Installation of Plastic Bottle Crushing Machines at Stations has taken a major role for this purpose. Steps have also been taken to minimise the generation of plastic waste and its eco-friendly disposal.
Compost Plant
Compost Plants have been set up at various Stations over ECoR. Green Bins and Bio-Gas plants have been provided at various Stations as a part of pollution initiative measures.
Sanitary Pad Incinerators
On successful acceptance and response from women passengers, Automatic Sanitary Napkin Vending Machines have been provided at Major Stations over ECoR. Keeping in view the demand from the passengers, East Coast Railway has also provided this facility at important trains originating from its jurisdiction. This initiative is a part of ECoR’s drive to improve sanitation and hygiene.
ECoR focusing on Solar Energy for long-term energy security and ecological security by reducing carbon emission. ECoR has commissioned Solar Plants on rooftops of various buildings, railway stations, and at the Mancheswar Carriage Repair Workshop. ECoR has identified land for installing “land-based solar PV installations” to augment renewal energy generation for meeting traction loads to the maximum extent. Once these solar plants are commissioned, ECoR will have 100MWp of installed solar power leading to a reduction of carbon emission by 96000 tones per annum. Solar Water Heaters have been provided at the Running Rooms over ECoR jurisdiction. Plans have been made for Energy Efficient Lights at all the Stations over ECoR jurisdictions.
Greenery development & Green initiatives
On a mission for Greenery Development, East Coast Railway has taken initiatives for sapling plants at the residential and different establishments over its jurisdiction along with at free vacant land of ECoR. Different establishments and Stations of East Coast Railway have achieved ISO Certificates. Mancheswar Workshop at Bhubaneswar and more than 20 Railway Stations have received ISO Certificates for Environmental Management System. This certificate has been given to the Stations to provide facilities to the passengers in a Clean and Green Environment.
Waste to Energy Plant:
In an initiative of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, East Coast Railway has commissioned a Waste to Energy Plant at Carriage Repair Workshop at Bhubaneswar. Lots of non-ferrous scrap generated in the Carriage Repair Workshop which converts multiple feedstocks into hydrocarbon liquid fuels, gas, carbon and water. This is the 1st-of-its-kind in Indian Railways and 3rd in India.
East Coast Railway takes lead in scrap disposal to safeguard environment. East Coast Railway is committed to serve the people with the highest quality standards and hygiene protecting the overall surrounding environment. On the occasion of World environment day June 5, ECoR reiterates its commitment for pollution-free transportation.
