Not just plastic, Indian Railways to ditch foil too: Here is how you will get food on stations, trains

In a bid to stop the usage of single use plastic on station premises and in trains, Indian Railways has issued instructions to vendors at all stations not to use polythene bags to sell food and beverages. Further, the railway will also stop using aluminum foil in the packaging of food items supplied in trains. In the campaign against plastic, the base kitchen of New Delhi railway station has discarded the use of aluminum foil, and is using plates made of sugarcane waste (bagasse) which is completely eco-friendly and biodegradable. Currently, these plates are being used in some Rajdhani and Duronto trains.

Sugarcane bagasse for packaging

In coming days, if you are travelling by a train and get your food in sugarcane bagasse, don't be surprised. This new material, called Bagasse, is being used in a new food packing rather than using aluminum foil. Bagasse is made from the waste of sugarcane after removing its juice. The base kitchen of New Delhi railway station has started packing food items for the trains in this bagasse.

Currently, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is using these plates for food packaging in some Rajdhani and Duronto trains coming to New Delhi station, and the IRCTC will gradually use it in other trains also. Not only this, jute bags are also being used to supply food items in the trains from kitchen, for which polythene bags were so far used.

"Avatar" gives message against using plastic

Recently, a selfie point was made on the platform number 16 of New Delhi railway station where a character from famous Hollywood movie "Avatar" was created to make people aware of single use plastic. Travelers also liked the idea and many of them took selfies with the cut-out. Sunil Beniwal, Senior DCM, Delhi Division, who devised this theme, said that from 2nd October, single use plastic will be completely banned at Railway stations in Delhi. The orders in this regard have been issued to the employees working at these stations, and passengers are also being made aware of it.
 
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Food items sold in packs of leaves

In Western Railway's Ratlam division, vendors have started selling food items in cups made of leaves as an alternative to plastic at some stations including Kalakund, Javra and Mandsaur. The vendors at these stations are also using containers along with their stalls to collect the plates made of leaves to dispose them off later. These plates and cups made of leaves are completely bio degradable.