Maligaon, July 15 (MExN): Continuing its efforts to fight the COVID_19 pandemic, the Indian Railways’ production unit, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, has developed a Post COVID Coach.
According to a press release from the CPRO of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), this coach has design improvements in the coach like hands free amenities, copper-coated handrails and latches, plasma air purification and Titanium dioxide coating for COVID free passenger journey.
Handsfree amenities in the Post COVID Coach has foot operated water tap and soap dispenser, foot operated lavatory door (outside), foot operated flush valve, foot operated latches in lavatory door, outside washbasin with foot operated water tap and soap dispenser and forearm operated handle on compartment door.
The coach also has provision of plasma air equipment in AC duct. This plasma air equipment will sterilize the air and surfaces inside the AC coach using ionised air to make the coach COVID-19 and particulate matter resistant. This provision will also improve the ion concentration from100 ions/cm3 to more than 6000 ions/cm, the release informed.
Copper-coated handrails and latches degrade the virus that lands on it within few hours. Copper has anti microbial properties due to which, when virus lands on copper, Ion blasts pathogen and destroy the DNA and RNA inside the virus.
Nano structured Titanium dioxide (TiO2) coating functions as photoactive material. This is eco-friendly water-based coating that kills viruses, bacteria, mould, and fungal growth and most importantly enhances indoor air quality. It is non-toxic and approved by food testing laboratory of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CE certified. TiO2 is considered to be a safe substance and is harmless to humans and this coating is applied on washbasins, lavatory, seats and berths, snack table, glass window, floor, virtually every surface that comes in human contact. Effective life of the coating is 12 months.
