Mumbai: Railways' plastic crushing machine installation drive is a money-spinner

One of the plastic bottle crushers installed at the railway stations

Finally, a sustainable model. In the past few months, there has been a proliferation of plastic bottle crushing machines at the city's railway stations. The sale of the crushed bottle plastic flakes has been bringing in good revenue for the Railways, in addition to advertisements on the machines, with a sustainable model slowly emerging from it all. The aim is to have cleaner surroundings with environmental benefits.

Another 33 plastic bottle crushing machines will soon be installed at 23 stations of Mumbai division - Marine Lines, Charni Road, Grant Road, Mahalaxmi, Khar Road, Santacruz, Vile Parle, Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Dahisar, Mira Road, Bhayandar, Naigaon, Palghar, Boisar, Umergaon, Bilimora, Udvada, Vapi, Valsad, Navsari, Udhna junction and Surat.

"Instead of provision of plastic bottle crushing machines on expenditure model (no purchase), the new machines are being acquired on earning module (on contract) with a dual object to curb expenditure and to earn revenue. In this the plastic bottle crushing machine provider will get an opportunity to earn through display of advertisements on the machines, as well as sale of plastic flakes collected in them," a senior official said.

"A total 17 bottle crushing machines have already been installed under Corporate Social Responsibility at various stations, including Churchgate, Mumbai Central, Bandra Terminus, Vile Parle, Andheri, Borivli, Vapi, Valsad, Navsari, Udhna and Surat. Besides this, 25 machines have also been installed by G G Engineering Ltd at 16 stations - Churchgate, Mumbai Central, Lower Parel, Prabhadevi, Dadar, Matunga Road, Mahim, Bandra Local, Bandra Terminus, Andheri, Malad, Kandivli, Borivli, Vasai Road, Nalasopara and Virar stations," he elaborated. These machines have been installed since January.

Saving and earnings
He said from the installation of these 25 machines, WR has earned Rs 15,000 per annum as license fees, as well as made a saving of R8,75,000 from the contract. Similarly with the installation of additional 33 new machines, WR will earn Rs 26,800 as license fees as well as R1,15,50,000 as saving from this earning module. Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Sumit Thakur confirmed the development.

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No. of plastic crushers already installed