Mumbai: Smell sensors to keep track of odours at CSMT

With its unique dashboard, chart views and mobile alerts, Gandhvedh provides information to monitoring officers

Public toilets and malodorous parts of the city's biggest rail terminus - CSMT - have been fitted with smell sensors as part of an unprecedented experimental initiative during the Swachh Bharat campaign last month. The device will help railway officials to set parameters for contractors maintaining public toilets and monitor their cleanliness standards.

The idea is to eliminate the chronic odour problem at the station, which is used by eight to 10 lakh commuters every day. Two devices have been installed in the heavily used suburban lobby toilets and other places.

Called Gandhvedh, the sensor is an electronic IoT (Internet of Things) device that monitors odour, total volatile organic compound (TVOC), temperature and humidity. IoT gadgets are pieces of hardware, such as sensors, actuators, appliances or machines, that are programmed for certain applications and can transmit data over the internet or other networks.

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"Gandhvedh detects unpleasant odours emanating from toilets, pre-dominantly due to human urine and faeces. People usually avoid using toilets due to the unpleasant odour emanating from them. Our product helps users to identify toilets that have unpleasant smells. Through its unique dashboard, chart views and mobile alerts, Gandhvedh provides information to monitoring officers about the condition of toilets they are maintaining," a senior official said.

Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer, Central Railway, said Gandhvedh had been displayed at the public stall on the occasion of fortnight-long cleanliness drive Swachhata Pakhwada-2022, from September 16 to October 2 with a view to ensure visible improvement in cleanliness in all places, including railway stations, trains, offices, colonies, workshops, hospitals and food stalls.

"The environment and housekeeping wing of Central Railway has done excellent work during Swachhata Pakhwada-2022. Since September, 1,61,394 kg of plastic waste has been collected, which is a commendable effort. Central Railway has achieved 100 per cent fitment of bio-toilets by fitting 18,000 toilets on 5,000 coaches, and 5,155 pairs of steel or plastic dustbins have been provided on station premises for passengers," he added.

1,61,394
The weight of plastic waste collected since September 16 by CR in kgs