CHANDIGARH: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MP Avinash Rai Khanna thanked Union Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for replacing one-litre water bottles with 500ml water bottles for the passengers in Vande Bharat Express trains.
With an aim to save water and efforts to reduce use of single-use plastic, the former MP Avinash Rai Khanna had in August last year wrote a letter to union minister and had said, “It was learnt that each passenger gets one-litre water bottles while travelling in Vande Bharat Express trains. On the other hands, the passengers get 500-ml water bottles which travelling in Shatabdi Express trains. It was often noticed that people do not consume entire water and usually leave the half-filled bottles in the trains, leading to wastage.”
“It is requested that the bottles be replaced with those of 500 ml as a part of PM Narendra Modi’s campaigns to conserve water and reduce use of single-use plastic. Daily, around 1000 passengers travel in one Vande Bharat train and if water quantities are cut to half, a lot of water can be saved. Also, in case passengers require more drinking water, extra bottles can be provided on requests”, the letter had further said.
However, on union ministry’s positive response on the request and after replacement of one-litre water bottles with 500ml water bottles for the passengers in Vande Bharat Express trains, Avinash Rai Khanna said, “I extend my heartfelt appreciation and thankyou for replacing the bottles after my request. This move aligns with PM Modi’s efforts to conserve water resources and reduce plastic waste.”