INDIAN RAILWAYS DECISION TO ENFORCE BAN ON SINGLE USE PLASTIC MATERIALS ON ITS PREMISES , INCLUDING TRAINS WITH EFFECT FROM 2ND OCT 2019 . ....Good Morning Friends , I Congratulate the Indian Railways for their decision to enforce a ban on single-use plastic materials on its premises, including trains, with effect from October 2, 2019. The Railway Authorities have decided to expedite installation of 1,853 plastic water bottle crushing machines at 360 major stations in the first phase, the Railway asked Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Development Corporation (I R C T C) to implement return of plastic drinking bottles as part of Extended Producer Responsibility. The Railway Authorities have directed its employees to reduce, reuse and refuse plastic products and to use inexpensive reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint. This direction has been issued to take adequate preventive measures to follow Plastic Waste Management rules. Accordingly steps should be taken to minimize generation of plastic waste and for its Eco-friendly disposal. Going by the rules, single-use plastics shall not be less than 50 microns.
Manoranjan Kalia 
Date 22 nd August 2019 .