Bio-toilets in Trivandrum Mail raises quite a stink

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a huge relief for daily commuters when Trivandrum Mail came with new attractive coaches. Compared to the old coaches, the new ones were found to be more comfortable. However, passengers travelling by the train these days have to bear with the foul smell emanating from bio-toilets. Needless to say that the last leg of journey is a nightmare. “The train brings along a stench when it reaches Kollam junction. The bogies stink badly,” complained Nous-had a daily commuter.

The toilet evacuates its discharge into a bio digester tank which is fitted under the coaches and it decomposes human excretory waste into methane and water. However, bio-toilets often get blocked by cigarette butts, sanitary napkins, plastic water bottles and waste food. “Once toilets are blocked, human waste does not flow into the bio digester tank. The nozzle which is fitted under the closet develops defect following the dumping of stuff like mineral water bottles, diapers, sanitary napkins and silver foil food containers. This defect should be detected easily during the routine check which is normally carried out in Chennai yard,” said a railway official.

He said for the convenience of commuters they had now added a shaft in the toilet which helps passengers convert the toilet to the older one if the system fails. Experts say in bio-toilets, an anaerobic bacterium converts human waste into water and gasses (methane and carbon dioxide). Bio-toilets ensure that no bad smell emanates from toilets and prevents cockroaches and flies. The water and gas formed from human waste is released through outlets. Water is chlorinated and then discharged outside. However, the normal functioning of the toilet gets seriously hampered because of the waste that is dumped.