Visakhapatnam: The railway passengers no need to be surprised, if they were prevented from taking non bio-degradable polythene carry bags, disposable plastic cups and plates in side the city railway station as the Waltair railway division is gearing up to make the station plastic free zone.
“To make the station plastic free, the process has begun with canteens and vendors being asked not to use plastic containers that are non-biodegradable, violating of which would draw penalties. Passengers, though will not be fined now, they are being discouraged to take plastic inside the station as the ban could not be imposed at one go,” said a railway official from the Waltair Railway Division.
Plastic waste has turned out to become a matter of concern for cleanliness and of safety. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), after conducting a survey of major railway stations for cleanliness ranking with the objective of measuring passenger satisfaction on station premises, had suggested that ban on polythene carry bags and plastic cups and plates may be imposed inside the station premises.
During a ground reality check, cleanliness on the station premises and tracks were found to have been properly maintained. However, some plastic water bottles were spotted littered on the track.
Moreover, as uncrushed drinking water bottles are leaving a scope for reuse, the railways authorities are planning to install potable drinking water bottle pulveriser machines at the railway stations to stop misuse and check plastic waste generation. A rag-picker at the station said he collected the plastic wastes and sold them at Rs 10 per kg.
