The cleanliness of blankets provided on Indian Railways, especially in AC coaches, has been a subject of concern for many passengers. In a recent RTI response to The New Indian Express, the Ministry of Railways revealed that while bed linen such as bedsheets and pillow covers are washed after each use, the woollen blankets are to be washed at least once a month, preferably twice, depending on logistical constraints.
However, interviews with around 20 housekeeping staff from long-distance trains painted a different picture. Most confirmed that the blankets are typically washed just once a month, and are cleaned more frequently only if visibly dirty or smelly. This discrepancy raises concerns about whether passengers are truly receiving clean and hygienic blankets.
Interestingly, the fare passengers pay for AC coach travel includes the cost of bedrolls, which cover blankets, bedsheets, and pillow covers. In premium trains like Garib Rath and Duronto, however, passengers must pay extra if they wish to receive a bedroll.
The challenge of ensuring clean blankets is further complicated by the use of heavy woollen blankets, which, according to a retired senior officer from the Environment and Housekeeping Management (EnHM), are cumbersome to wash regularly. She suggested that Indian Railways should discontinue their use, given the difficulty in maintaining cleanliness.
Indian Railways operates 46 departmental laundries and 25 Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) laundries across the country. While the railways own the land and machinery for these laundries, much of the laundry staff is hired on a contractual basis, making oversight and consistency a challenge.
For passengers, the cleanliness of blankets remains an area of concern, urging the need for Indian Railways to rethink its approach to onboard hygiene.
