The Indian Railways in the recent years has taken various initiatives to improve its service quality. Earlier, the national transporter had taken steps to improve food quality served in the trains and also initiatives were being taken to ensure railway passengers safety. Now, the Indian Railways is mulling to replace them with "upgraded" vacuum bio-toilets, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has said.  Railways earlier installed bio-toilets in almost all the train coaches, according to report.

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Piyush Goyal said replacing the bio-toilets with the latest version was envisaged to enhance passenger amenities and bringing the railways amenities on a par with the airlines. "We have started experimenting with vacuum bio-toilets like those in an aeroplane. Some 500 vacuum bio-toilets have been ordered and once the experiment is successful," Goyal told PTI. "I am willing to spend money to replace all the 2.5 lakh toilets in the trains with vacuum bio-toilets." 

At a cost of Rs 1 lakh per toilet,  the Indian Railways has fitted  1,36,965 bio-toilets in 37,411 coaches as of May 31.  According to the report, by March 2019 all the Indian Railways coaches will be fitted with bio-toilets. This will cost the national transporter Rs 250 crore, it said. Bio-toilet will be installed in 18,750 more coaches.

Goyal said this initiative will make the railway tracks cleaner and the smell will go away. The minister said that vacuum toilets will be odour-free and will also cut down water usage by 1/20th.  

The minister said competition of the project will improve our Indian Railways levels of service and will give passengers satisfaction.