Western Railway Turns To Nano Coating To Tackle Gutkha Stains At High-Footfall Stations After 12,265 Spitting Cases
Mumbai: Western Railway is expanding the use of a special anti-stain nano coating at stations with high passenger footfall and areas prone to paan and gutkha stains, following a pilot project at Matunga Road. The coating has already been applied at Dadar and Mumbai Central, while Khar is among the stations identified for the next phase, given its passenger movement and frequent VIP visits. The…
Mumbai's Western Railway is turning to a nano coating technology to combat growing issues of gutkha and paan stains at busy stations, following a successful pilot project at Matunga Road. The anti-stain coating, known as Wallguard and Metalguard, is being expanded to additional high-traffic stations such as Dadar, Mumbai Central, and Khar, which experiences significant passenger movement and VIP visits.
In the first phase, the coating proved effective in preventing stains from penetrating station surfaces, reducing cleaning time from around 30 minutes to just five minutes. Western Railway recorded 12,265 cases of spitting and unsanitary conditions at 34 suburban stations between April and July 2026, generating Rs 27.18 lakh in fines.
The technology, based on German nano-technology, is expected to last for five years and save on frequent cleaning and repainting costs. While the focus now shifts to the expansion, the railway authority emphasizes that fines, passenger awareness, and regular cleaning will remain crucial components of their hygiene strategy, particularly at stations with heavy footfall.
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