Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 20: The Ministry of Railways has introduced a new pilot initiative aimed at enhancing hygiene and passenger comfort by providing washable blanket covers in AC coaches.

Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the move is designed to address long-standing concerns about cleanliness and ensure a safer, cleaner, and more comfortable travel experience.

“Blankets have been part of our railway system for years, but passengers have often expressed doubts about their cleanliness. To resolve this, we are introducing a new initiative — blanket covers,” said Vaishnaw.

The scheme has been launched on the Jaipur–Asarva Express and will gradually be expanded to other routes based on feedback. The printed covers will ensure improved hygiene, uniformity, and a better onboard experience for passengers, Indian Railways stated in an official release.

Addressing passenger concerns

The introduction of blanket covers comes after repeated feedback about infrequent cleaning of train blankets compared to bedsheets and pillow covers.

Last year, Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that blankets provided in AC coaches were washed at least once a month. He added that the current blankets used are lighter, easier to wash, and offer better insulation for passenger comfort.

To further improve hygiene, Indian Railways has already started procuring new linen sets adhering to updated BIS specifications and using mechanised laundries for washing.

Eco-friendly packaging and improved logistics

According to an NDTV report, the railways have also introduced eco-friendly packaging for bedrolls and upgraded logistics systems for storing, transporting, loading, and unloading linen and bedrolls at stations and onboard trains.

If successful, the new initiative could soon become standard practice across all AC classes in the country’s railway network.