New Delhi: Yes, you heard that right. The Railways will recharge your phone if you use bottle crushing machines installed at stations. The new move has been introduced in an attempt to promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to junk single-use plastic. In his Independence Day speech, Modi has urged the nation to eliminate single-use plastic and find alternatives to plastic water bottles on a priority basis.
The Railways has issued a directive to stop the usage of single-use plastic on its premises from October 2. A pledge will be administered to cut the use of plastic on October 2.
Railway Board Chairman VK Yadav has said that the Railways will install 400 bottle crushing machines at stations. Passengers wanting to use the machine will have to key in their phone number into the machine and their phone will be recharged.
However, Railways is yet to reveal details of the amount of the recharge.
As of now, there are 160 bottle crushing machines at 128 stations, said Yadav. He added that Railway staff have been given instructions to collect all the used plastic bottles at railway stations and send them for recycling.
Earlier, the Ministry of Railways had issued an instruction to all its vendors and staff across the network to use reusable bags to reduce plastic footprint.