E-Paper
Breathing roofs for Rly platforms a must: Study
A STUDY of the railway platforms? with a special focus on Allahabad railway stations?by an expert from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) has established that minor design changes of the roofs can significantly help improve air quality and the environment of the platforms besides making the entire station more comfortable for the rail passengers. The findings of the study and a set of recommendations have now been forwarded to the General Manager of North Central Railway (NCR) for consideration.
MNNIT expert’s suggestion to NCR GM
A STUDY of the railway platforms— with a special focus on Allahabad railway stations—by an expert from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) has established that minor design changes of the roofs can significantly help improve air quality and the environment of the platforms besides making the entire station more comfortable for the rail passengers. The findings of the study and a set of recommendations have now been forwarded to the General Manager of North Central Railway (NCR) for consideration.
Informing about the study and its findings, Assistant professor in MNNIT's Mechanical engineering department Dr HS Goyal said that the study found the modern designers had erred in not providing gaps in the roofs, as was done by the Britishers, and as a result the platforms have become devoid of natural ventilation so necessary in places like railway stations where thousands come and go every day.
"On Allahabad Junction Railway Station, especially on Platform number 1, the width of the platform is quite significant and the long platform has buildings on one side and the rail tracks on the other side. The complete platform width is covered with sheets. On some portion of the sheeted roof, a transparent roof has been provided to allow some natural light, but the continuous long roof restricts natural ventilation," informed Dr Goyal.
He said that in the absence of any artificial ventilation, the only possibility of air flow exists from the rail tracks' side.
"But here the exhaust from the standing train compartments along with foul smell generated by dirty rail tracks splashed with human faeces and urine makes the entire atmosphere of the platforms nauseating. The fact that this is happening despite efforts of the authorities concerned to keep the tracks clean spells out the urgency of taking an action now," he added.
Dr Goyal said that if we somehow improve the air circulation in the environment, the situation would improve.
"But for that we need to re-invent our old technological practices. Ever since the very first train chugged alongside the platforms, the railway engineers had to find ways of dealing with the heat and smoke they generate. The Victorians had a simple idea: A large high dome above the platforms that would collect all the pollution and disperse it high above the heads of passengers," he said.
Dr Goyal said that our system planners now need to re-learn from our own old styles of making roof which can breathe in the present energy and environment conscious era.
"In the recommendations, I have suggested that openings be provided on the roof of the platforms at regular intervals. This can be easily done by reworking on the old designs as was used in the old era for natural circulation of air. We can utilise basic fundamentals of Physics for this and easily obtain great results that would significantly improve the environment of the platforms and the stations," he added.
Dr Goyal expressed hope that the railway officials would consider the steps for improving platform environment through breathing roofs in passenger areas as recommended after the study by him.
