Railways to Improve Quality of Bedding, Starts Survey | India News - Times of India

CHENNAI: Indian Railways is looking at the possibility of providing disposable blankets, bed sheets and pillows in air-conditioned coaches for a price ranging from 60 to 150. To seek public opinion, the railways has started an online survey on bedrolls and blankets. There was a move a few years ago to introduce disposable bedding which passengers need not leave behind at the end of the journey. But the plan did not take off. Sources said that the ministry was thinking of providing disposable bedding for a price because there have been several complaints that bedding given now are unhygienic. The survey tries to gather information about quality and aesthetics of bedding and curtains in coaches. The questionnaire seeks to know passengers' preference for the colour of the bed sheet, printed sheets and fabric. The bed linen provided now is white. The survey wants to find out if travellers prefer colour sheets with prints - large prints, small prints or geometric prints. The colour choice offered are white, light colour and dark shades. People are also given a choice to comment on the fabric that they want their bedding- cotton, cotton blend or polyester. The railways will decide on the changes based on inputs from travellers. A senior railway official said the survey was put out as part of the ministry's move to connect with passengers online. This is in departure with the earlier practise of gathering feedback which required passengers to write in their comments. The railways provides reusable woollen blankets, white bed linen and pillows in AC I, AC II and AC III tier coaches. However, due to lack of facilities to wash the bedding at all stations, fresh bed sheets are given on only one-leg of the journey. Used and dirty bed sheets are ironed and supplied to passengers who travel by the return trip of the train. Passengers who travel by trains in the return direction to Chennai from towns like Madurai, Tuticorin, Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari have to make do with unwashed sheets used by passengers who travelled by the trip out of Chennai. Travellers had expressed displeasure at this practise and many have started to carry their own sheets. Railway officials, however, said trains carry a fresh load of bedding needed for the return trip also. Divisional rail users consultative committee (DRUCC) former member S Mohanram said, "Quality of the cloth should be improved. They should ensure that the sheets are neither too thick nor thin. As the railways has increased the fare on higher class of travel, they should also offer better services to passengers." Download The Times of India News App for Latest India News.