Bottle crusher machine installed at Ahmedabad railway station

As part of the recently launched 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan', railway authorities in Gujarat have introduced hi-tech plastic bottle crushers at the Ahmedabad Railway Station in a bid to keep it clean.

Women workers were seen picking up used and strewn bottles from the railway platforms and trains and crushing it in the machine. These bottles are later recycled.

Atul Tripathi, a ward assistant of Western Railways, said, "Disposal of bottles, which get accumulated at the stations, will be done in a clean manner. This machine was installed on October 02 and is working properly. Almost two to 2.5 lakh bottles get accumulated here."

"Initially, we are trying to do as much as we can because it is in process of getting established and we hope by 15th it would be properly installed and will be used in a better way," he added.

The eco-friendly initiative will generate employment and also benefit the railways economically.

"I bring the bottles from the train, cut them and then put them inside the machine. I am satisfied with the work here as I will be earning something," said Meera Sharma, a worker.

Earlier, the water bottles were collected and disposed off in an unhygienic manner.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' initiative the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, and urged the citizens to take up sanitation and cleanliness drive.