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New Delhi: In an effort to spruce up passenger amenities, Indian Railways has decided to install water-purifiers in coaches to improve the quality of drinking water and hygiene in trains. “The first coach with water purifier facility is being readied at the Jagadhri railway workshop in Jalandhar and it will soon be part of a long-distance express train as a pilot project,” said a senior Railway ministry official. “Trains get its water supply from stations and because of the prevalence of iron impurities in certain areas, quality of water also gets affected,” he said.

Currently, luxury trains are being equipped with water purifiers. Pantry cars of many trains including in Rajdhani and Shatabdi already have water-purifiers.

“Our aim is to provide clean water in trains and we are beginning with the facility in LHB coach first and later on conventional coaches will also be equipped with water purifiers,” the official said.

Besides, in view to improve the standards of cleanliness and hygiene in coaches, On-Board Housekeeping Services (OBHS) scheme has been introduced in all Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto and important long distance Mail/Express trains.

Under the scheme, a set of housekeeping staff travels on-board and ensures cleanliness in compartments and toilets.

Railways has also decided to allot two berths in each train for OBHS who have been entrusted with the job to maintain cleanliness in trains.