Indian Railways Launches Blanket Covers in AC Coaches: Enhancing Passenger Hygiene and Comfort

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has launched an innovative pilot scheme that introduces blanket covers for passengers traveling in AC coaches across Indian Railways.

The Ministry of Railways unveiled this hygiene-enhancing initiative on Thursday (Oct 16), addressing a long-standing passenger concern. Minister Vaishnaw explained that this move aims to provide travelers with a safer, cleaner, and more comfortable journey experience.

This implementation responds directly to persistent passenger requests, as blankets traditionally weren't cleaned as frequently as bed sheets and pillow covers in railway coaches.

"Blankets have been integral to our railway system for years, but passengers have always harbored doubts about their cleanliness. To eliminate these concerns, we're introducing blanket covers as a new initiative," Vaishnaw stated.

The Jaipur–Asarva Express will be the first train to feature printed blanket covers in all AC coaches. Upon successful implementation, the Railway Ministry plans to expand this scheme across all sectors nationwide.

Indian Railways officially announced, "To enhance passenger comfort, the Railway Minister launched new printed blanket covers across all AC classes of Jaipur–Asarva Express, promoting improved hygiene, uniformity, and an elevated onboard experience."

Minister Vaishnaw shared updates about this initiative on social media, noting that it represents a new passenger-focused improvement, alongside various amenities being inaugurated across 65 railway stations in Rajasthan.

Prior to this initiative, in November last year, Vaishnaw had informed the Lok Sabha that blankets provided to train passengers were washed only once per month.

Responding to Congress MP Kuldeep Indora's question about blanket hygiene standards, Vaishnaw had stated, "The blankets currently used in Indian Railways, according to present specifications, are lighter, easier to wash, and provide effective insulation for an overall comfortable journey experience."

The Railways Minister outlined several measures already implemented to ensure passenger comfort and safety, including procurement of improved linen sets meeting enhanced BIS specifications and the establishment of mechanized laundries to maintain hygienic bedding.

Additionally, the railway system has adopted eco-friendly packaging for bedrolls and improved logistics for storing, transporting, loading, and unloading linen and bedrolls at stations and on trains.