Mechanised laundry installed at the Visakhapatnam Railway Station

A mechanised laundry constructed at Gnanapuram side of Visakhapatnam Railway Station has been launched by Member of Parliament, K Haribabu, on Wednesday.

The laundry works as a Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model and first-of-its-kind in the East Coast Railway.  The whole equipment is set up at a cost of Rs 24.08 Crores with 4-tonne capacity. The machine would be operated by a private agency for 10 years and then be taken over by the railways. The laundry can be used for washing, drying and ironing of the linen.

A total of 4,500 bed rolls, with each consisting of two blankets, a pillow cover and one face towel, can be prepared in an 8-hour-shift. The cost of washing and pressing of each bed roll works out to ₹12.07. The laundry, established in an area of 20,000 sft, boasts of the best equipment in the world like washer-cum-extractor, flat ironer-cum-feeder, folder and dryers.

The laundry would help in preparing 4,500 bed rolls, each consisting of, two blankets, a pillow cover and one face towel, in a shift of 8 hours. Washing and pressing of each bed roll would cost Rs 12.07.

Established in an area of 20,000 sq feet, the laundry is equipped with the best in the world equipment like washer-cum-extractor, flat-ironer-cum-feeder, folder and dryers. The bed linen would be supplied to 21 trains in Visakhapatnam Railway Station.

Also, eco-friendly steam boilers and 1000 litre water tanks were proposed for water storage.

Credits: The Hindu