Indian Railways likely to stop providing blankets in AC coaches

CAG report found that there are various zonal railways where no blankets had been dry washed in the said period. In fact, the blankets were not dry washed for over three years.

Bengaluru Railway Station: Photo: IANS

Soon Indian Railways likely to stop providing blankets in AC coaches.

After the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) rapped Indian Railways over cleaning and management of linen and blankets provided in AC coaches, the railways are likely to stop providing them which used to be a part in the bed pack, a source told Sameer Dixit of Zee Business.

According to the source, the railways are planning to increase the AC temprature to 22-24 degrees so that there will be no need of blankets.

However, the railway may replace blankets with quilts as quilts will be easy to wash and maintain as compared to blankets, the source added.

Even after Railway Board instructions to wash linen after every single use and blankets be dry cleaned every two months, CAG report found that there are various zonal railways where no blankets had been dry washed in the said period. In fact, the blankets were not dry washed for over three years.

The dry washing of one blanket costs Indian Railways around Rs 55, while they could cover only Rs 22 from passengers.

Moreover, the source mentioned that the railways have already started the trials in Garib Rath trains where only quilt is provided instead of blankets.

Apart from this issue, the railways are also looking at providing cover to blankets and shortening the size of it, the source added.

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