Smelly blankets may soon become a thing of past on trains, with the Railways deciding to wash them after every use.

As per the plan, newly designed lightweight blankets made of soft fabric will replace the existing ones and these will be washed after every use, a first in railways.

Currently blankets are washed only periodically — once or twice a month.

“We are procuring blankets designed by the National Institute of Fashion Technology [NIFT] which can be washed after every use and still last longer,” said a senior Railway Ministry official.

The NIFT has designed the fabric of the blanket, a mix of wool and cotton, which can withstand daily wash.

“Since there were complaints about blankets, we have tried to address the issue. We have approved the NIFT-designed washable blanket. The washable blankets will be used in a few selected premier trains to begin with and later more trains will be covered,” the official said.

The Railways has taken steps to set up state-of-the-art mechanised laundries at many stations to cater to the increased requirement of daily washing of bedrolls. — PTI

Lightweight blankets made of soft fabric will replace the

existing ones