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The Hindu
a day ago
- Science
- The Hindu
India's easternmost railway zone shifts to compostable bio-plastic on trains
GUWAHATI The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has become India's first railway zone to shift to compostable bio-plastic on trains. As a pilot initiative, the NFR introduced a biodegradable bag to distribute linen to passengers on August 15, coinciding with the celebration of India's 79th Independence Day. The ISO17088-compliant bioplastic used as the packaging material was developed at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G). The initiative was rolled out under the supervision of NFR's General Manager, Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, and an IIT-G team led by Professor Vimal Katiyar. NFR spokesperson Kapinjal Kishore Sharma stated the pilot project involves distributing 40,000 bioplastic bags across 25 trains originating from the railway zone's terminals in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and West Bengal. He stated that the project aligned with the mission of the NFR, India's easternmost railway zone, to adopt green initiatives for its transportation system. 'The zone has implemented rapid railway electrification, solar energy generation, artificial intelligence-based intrusion detection systems to safeguard elephants and others, rainwater harvesting, quick watering systems, automatic coach washing plants, bio-toilets, a mechanised cleaning system, composting of solid waste, afforestation, and the transformation of wastelands into green areas,' he said. Mr. Sharma said that an inoculum generation plant at Kamakhya (a railway station near the NFR's headquarters in Guwahati) has played a vital role in recycling biodegradable waste, which helps in reprocessing used bedroll bags into new ones, further reducing plastic pollution. NFR officials said the collaboration with IIT-G marks a practical and scalable approach towards greener railway operations and enhanced passenger convenience through environmentally responsible solutions.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Time of India
NF Railways, IIT-Guwahati develop innovative paint tech to prevent moss scaling on railway bridges
Guwahati: Northeast Frontier Railway ( NFR ) has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati to develop an innovative paint technology aimed at preventing moss scaling on railway bridges . #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Code of war: India and Pakistan take their battle to the (web)front Forex reserves show a pauperised Pakistan, a prospering India Pakistan conducts training launch of surface-to surface ballistic missile This cutting-edge solution addresses a long-standing maintenance challenge, particularly in the humid and rain heavy climate of the North eastern region of India. After the advice of Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager of NFR to find a lasting solution to this persistent issue, the NFR team led by Sandeep Sharma, Principal Chief Engineer (PCE) joined forces with the IIT Guwahati team, headed by Dr. Vimal Katiyar. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Together, they have developed a specialized paint system designed to combat the formation of moss and biofilm layers, which commonly accumulate on bridge surfaces in this region. These biological growths not only compromise the visual appearance of bridges but also foster a corrosive environment, gradually threatening the structural integrity of critical infrastructure. The newly developed paint incorporates advanced chemical formulations that actively resist corrosion and inhibit the growth of moss and other organisms. It features a functionalized coating with an exterior lamination system that enhances durability and protection. This innovation is expected to significantly lower maintenance costs while extending the lifespan of railway bridges, contributing to safer and more sustainable railway operations. Live Events This collaborative initiative reflects the powerful impact of academia-industry partnerships in solving real-world technological problems. By combining IIT Guwahati's excellence in materials science with the operational expertise of NFR, the project sets a new benchmark for infrastructure management in challenging environments. The initiative not only enhances bridge safety but also establishes a precedent for future joint efforts in modernizing railway infrastructure across NFR.
