Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Responds On How Many Times Train Blankets Are Washed

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responded to a question raised by Congress MP Kuldeep Indora in the Lok Sabha. He was asked whether the woolen blankets provided in the bedroll kit by the Indian Railways are washed only once a month as passengers pay for bedding.

Congress MP Kuldeep Indora inquired,

“whether woollen blankets are washed only once a month while passengers are paying for bedding that meets the basic hygiene standards”

To this, the Railway minister presented a written reply.

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Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that blankets provided to Indian Railways passengers are washed at least once a month

The Railways minister also added that passengers also receive a bedsheet in the bedroll kit, which can be used as a quilt cover.

Vaishnaw presented a written reply, saying,

“The blankets used in Indian Railways, as per current specifications, are lighter, easy to wash and provide good insulation to passengers for an overall comfortable journey experience.”

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Vaishnaw outlined several measures implemented to enhance passenger comfort and safety

He also mentioned several steps taken to assure passenger comfort and safety like procurement of new linen sets with improved BIS specifications to ensure better quality. Mechanized laundries to ensure supply of hygienic linen sets, use of standard machines and specified chemicals for washing of linen, and monitoring linen washing activities.

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Vaishnaw also shared that Whito-meters are used to check the quality of washed linen items. He also mentioned the codal life of linen items has been reduced from the previously prescribed duration to allow quicker induction of fresh items.

Additionally, he mentioned that “war rooms” have been established at zonal headquarters and divisional levels to monitor and take immediate action on complaints submitted through the RailMadad portal, including those related to linen and bedrolls.

“War rooms have been established at zonal headquarters and divisional levels to monitor/prompt action on complaints lodged on RailMadad portal, including complaints on linen/bedroll”

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The minister also cited the use of eco-friendly packaging for bedrolls, along with improved logistics for storing, transporting, loading, and unloading linen and bedrolls at stations and on trains.

Did you ever receive a dirty bedroll kit while traveling on a train? Let us know in the comments.