Indian Railways is stepping into the future with a unique blend of infrastructure upgrades and indigenous drone technology.
Recently, in a move aimed at modernizing train maintenance, the railways has begun experimenting with high-pressure drone cleaning systems for washing train coaches.
The Udhna-Brahmapur Amrit Bharat Express in Gujarat became the first in the state to be part of this new cleaning trial. Rather than relying on traditional manual scrubbing, the entire train was washed using drones at Surat and Udhna stations.
The specially designed drones, built to handle high-pressure spraying, managed to clean all 25 coaches in just half an hour — a massive reduction compared to the usual manual process that takes up to three hours. The drones are flown to the height of the coaches, where they spray water at high pressure to remove dirt and grime.
These drones aren’t limited to cleaning coaches alone. Due to their ability to reach elevated and hard-to-access spots, they can also be used to clean station roofs, overhead structures, and other areas that are typically difficult to maintain using conventional methods.
The drone system was developed by two young innovators from Surat. The cost of building the entire setup has been estimated at Rs 3 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh making it not only innovative but also economically viable. Railway officials who witnessed the trial have sent a proposal to the Railway Board for wider implementation.
If approved, this technology could soon become a regular feature across railway stations, especially for express and long-distance trains, enhancing cleanliness while reducing the need for intensive manual labour.
Public Reaction: Applause and Criticism
While the move has been praised for its ingenuity, public opinion on social media has been mixed. Some users questioned the priorities of Indian Railways, arguing that punctuality and hygiene in train toilets deserve more urgent attention.
One user commented, “What’s smart about a train if it can’t run on time? I missed my connection yesterday due to a 2-hour delay.”
Another wrote, “All this looks good, but until trains run on time and accidents are minimized, these efforts feel superficial.”
A third user added, “Toilets in trains and on platforms need serious upgrades — start there before anything else.”
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