New Delhi (NVI): In a bid to ensure a safer journey to passengers, the Indian railways has developed a ‘Post Covid Coach’ that has design improvements like handsfree amenities, copper-coated handrails and latches, plasma air purification and titanium di-oxide coating.
The special coach has been developed by Indian Railways’ production unit, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala (Punjab), the Ministry of Railways said in a statement.
One of the salient features of the Post Covid Coach is ‘handsfree amenities’ which include a host of foot-operated fixtures — including taps, soap dispensers, lavatory doors, flush valves and door latches. Outside the toilet is a wash basin with a foot operated tap forearm. Besides, the compartment doors have handles operated with the forearm.
The Railways has installed copper-coated handrails and latches because copper degrades the virus landed on it within few hours.
“Copper has anti microbial properties. When virus lands on copper, Ion blasts pathogen and destroy the DNA and RNA inside the virus,” the Ministry said in a release.
Further, the coaches also have provision of plasma air equipment in AC duct that will sterilize the air and surfaces inside the coach using ionised air to make it Covid-19 free. This provision will also improve the ion concentration from 100 ions/cm3 to more than 6000 ions/cm.
The nano structured titanium dioxide coating is another feature which functions as photoactive material. This is eco-friendly water-based coating that kills viruses, bacteria, mould, and fungal growth and most importantly enhances indoor air quality. It is non-toxic and approved by food testing laboratory of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CE certified. TiO2 is considered to be a safe substance and is harmless to humans, the Ministry said.
The coating is applied on washbasins, lavatory, seats and berths, snack table, glass window, floor, virtually every surface that comes in human contact. Effective life of this coating is 12 months, the Railways said.
-RJV/ARK
