HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, April 24: In a move to enhance hygiene and sanitation standards across its network, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has established a Bacteria Inoculum Generation Plant and Testing Laboratory at the Kamakhya Coaching Depot.
This development, part of NFR’s broader cleanliness and eco-friendly initiatives, marks a first for any Indian Railways zone to integrate both production and quality testing of bio-toilet inoculums at a single facility.
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According to an official statement, the facility is equipped with a daily production capacity of 2,000 litres of Anaerobic Microbial Inoculums (AMI), a bacterial solution used to decompose human waste in train bio-toilets.
The in-house production has significantly reduced costs and improved supply reliability, while the adjoining lab ensures weekly quality checks in line with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) standards.
In March 2025 alone, NFR produced and distributed 35,000 litres of AMI to various depots across the zone, enhancing the performance and upkeep of bio-toilets onboard trains.
The initiative is part of a comprehensive approach adopted by NFR to maintain high cleanliness standards and ensure a comfortable travel experience.
Other measures include Onboard Housekeeping Services (OBHS), mechanized cleaning at stations and depots, and the widespread use of bio-toilets.
“The Kamakhya facility is a critical component in strengthening onboard sanitation systems, directly contributing to the Swachh Trains and Swachh Bharat missions,” the statement noted.
With this latest initiative, NFR aims to set new benchmarks in railway hygiene, reinforcing its commitment to safe, sustainable, and passenger-centric services, the statement concluded.
