After complaints, Railways plans softer, lighter, cleaner blankets in AC coaches

The Railway Board has specified soft blankets of superior quality with satin piping for AC coaches

Passengers travelling in air-conditioned coaches of trains can now wrap themselves up in soft and clean blankets of superior quality, according to revised specifications issued by the Railway Board.

Comptroller and Auditor General, in its report tabled in Parliament, noted that the national transporter was not adhering to the time schedule fixed for washing and sanitation of linen and blankets used by passengers. (Mujeeb Faruqui/HT File Photo)

The instructions issued earlier this month said that the blankets provided to passengers in AC coaches should be clean and free of grease, soap, filling or any other substance which would give fictitious mass or firmness to the blankets.

Unlike the woollen blankets provided now, the revised specifications said that the fibre content of the blankets should be 60 per cent wool, 15 per cent nylon and the weight should be 450 grammes.

The Railway Board has specified “soft blanket of superior quality with four side satin piping not less than 4 cm stitches per centimeter” for AC coaches.

At present, the blanket comes in a smaller size, weighs 2.2 kgs and is used for four years.

“These blankets with revised specifications should be washed preferably twice in a month subject to available capacity...in case of capacity constraints, washing should be done at least once a month.

“Life of the blankets with revised specifications and increased washing frequency is reduced initially to two years,” the note said, adding that this could be revised after a year.

The country’s supreme audit authority, in its report tabled in Parliament, noted that the national transporter was not adhering to the time schedule fixed for washing and sanitation of linen and blankets used by passengers.