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Introduction of Biodegradable Materials in Railways

Guwahati, August 16: In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has partnered with IIT-Guwahati to replace traditional plastic with biodegradable and compostable materials, as stated by officials.

As part of a pilot program, NFR has begun using eco-friendly green bed-roll bags on its trains, which will take the place of the conventional plastic bags previously used for distributing linens to passengers.

These bio-plastic bags, developed at IIT-Guwahati's research facility, are designed to decompose quickly in compost, according to an official announcement.

The initiative was officially launched on August 15, with approximately 40,000 bags set to be distributed across 25 trains departing from stations in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh.

This effort not only improves passenger convenience but also plays a vital role in minimizing landfill waste, reducing carbon emissions, and conserving natural resources, as highlighted in the release.

The collaboration with IIT-Guwahati, along with NFR's commitment to eco-friendly practices, represents a practical and scalable strategy for greener railway operations.

In addition to this initiative, NFR has also adopted various measures such as rapid railway electrification, solar energy production, AI-based systems for elephant protection, rainwater harvesting, automatic coach washing facilities, and bio-toilets.