Railways to have 100% bio-toilets by 2019 to eliminate defecation on tracks

Indian Railways will have 100 per cent bio-toilets by next year that will make tracks safe and eliminate defecation on the rail lines, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday.

He said that bio-toilets were one of the most successful stories of the Railways as 60 per cent of the coaches has already been fitted with it so far.

"The toilets on the entire rail network, whether passenger trains, express, Duronto, Rajdhani or unreserved ones, will be replaced with bio-toilets. We have already completed almost 60 per cent of the coaches.

"The work on the balance is going on expeditiously and by next year, it will be 100 per cent bio-toilets in the railways," the Minister said.

He said this will completely eliminate defecation on the tracks, which is not only unhygienic but affects rail safety because the uric acid damages them, causing accidents.