Modular Toilet Unit for Indian Railways

The project on Modular Toilet Unit in FRP was taken up at Industrial Design Centre & Department of Aerospace Engineering of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay for Indian Railways. The project was supported by the Advance Composite Mission, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. Hindustan Fibre Glass Works, Vadodara, made the prototypes with design and technology support from IIT Bombay.

Features and Advantages:

• Factory built, prefabricated product, 'ready to assemble' in A/C Coaches (manufactured by Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and Rail Coach Factory, Kaputhala, Punjab)
  
• Unit consists of 5 modules
  
• Can be erected in 3-4 hours
  
• 3 variations made to suit requirements of different types of coaches: include three oriental types WCs, one Western Type WC & 2 Units of Outside Panel with wash basin.
  
• All plumbing and electrical wiring concealed
  
• Indian style WC specially designed with ergonomic features for maximum comfort
  
• Good aesthetics and ergonomics the running theme throughout the design process
  
• Visual clutter due to leakage, visible plumbing, loose wiring, rusting elements avoided to make the unit a clean & hygienic place for use.
  
• Modern efficient image given by choosing right materials, form, colour & finishes
  
• Many innovative ideas incorporated to enhance the aesthetic, convenience & safety

IIT Bombay received a Certificate of Merit from the Consultancy Development Centre (DSIR) for excellence in consultancy services for the project on 'Design of Modular Toilet Unit for Railway Coaches' for the year 2001.

After a trial run in 2-tier air conditioned coaches of the Rajdhani Express, the units were transferred to the Indian Railways. Air-conditioned coaches made at the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai now employ these units.

Source: Industrial Design Centre
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Powai Mumbai 400 076