Railways pilots AI camera technology to detect stains on washed linen

Indian Railways has launched a pilot project using AI-camera stain detection technology in select mechanised laundries to improve linen quality. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also said blanket cover sheets are washed after every use, while Whito-Meters continue to monitor cleanliness standards

New Delhi: Indian Railways has initiated a pilot project of using automated AI-camera stain detection technology in laundries at Pune Division under the Central Railway and Jaipur and Jodhpur division in the North Western Railway for ascertaining the quality of washed linen, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply on Friday.

Congress MP Chandrakant Handore, raising the issue of washing of woollen blankets only once a month while bedsheets after every single journey, asked the status of mechanised and BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer)Â laundries currently utilising automated AI-camera stain detection technology and Whito-meters to audit linen cleanliness.

---

Vaishnaw said that each bedroll packet contains two bed sheets, one pillow cover and a hand towel. “One bed sheet is intended for keeping it on the sleeper seat while the additional bed sheet provided in the standard bedroll kit is intended as a covering layer under the blanket so that the blanket is not in direct touch with the body of the passenger,” Vaishnaw stated.

He added, “This blanket cover sheet is washed after single use. As a pilot initiative to enhance passenger experience, blanket covers are being provided to all AC class passengers in trains operated by North Western Railway and in newly launched Vande Bharat Sleeper Train operating between Kamakhya and Howrah. This initiative has been widely appreciated by the Passengers.”

Talking about the use of Whito-Meters, he said that they are used in all mechanised laundries to check the effectiveness of cleaning of linen.

“CCTV cameras have been installed across laundries over IR to monitor laundry operations. Indian Railways has also initiated the pilot project of using automated AI-camera stain detection technology in laundries at Pune Division, Central Railway and Jaipur & Jodhpur division, North Western Railway for ascertaining the quality of washed linen,” he said.