No more blanket in AC coaches; Railways to instead raise temp to 24 degrees

Officials say washing or dry-cleaning of linen, blankets is economically unviable

After drawing flak from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) over the cleanliness of blankets provided in air-conditioned (AC) coaches, the Indian Railways is set to do away with them, finding it unviable to get them washed at regular intervals. 

Instead, the Railways is set to increase the average temperature of AC coaches from the current 19 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius. 

“Cleaning blankets and bedrolls is costly. While the Railways is spending Rs 55 for cleaning bedroll, we are charging travellers only Rs 22. Hence, removing blankets on trains will prove to be economical,” said an official. 

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