Western Railway Expands Nano Coating at Stations as Spitting Fines Mount
Western Railway has begun expanding the application of a special anti-stain nano coating across high-footfall suburban stations, including Khar and Dadar, following an extensive drive that recorded 756 spitting and littering cases at Andheri alone between April 1 and July 31.
The German nano-technology treatment is designed to stop gutkha and paan stains from penetrating station walls, pillars, and other exposed surfaces. Products named ‘Wallguard’ and ‘Metalguard’ are being applied to walls, ceilings, lifts, and metal surfaces. Railway officials noted that in addition to resisting stains and graffiti, the protective layer guards surfaces against rust, weather exposure, and standard daily wear.
The decision to widen the project follows a pilot initiative conducted at Matunga Road station at an estimated cost of Rs 5 lakh. After assessing the pilot's performance, Western Railway moved to introduce the coating at Dadar and Mumbai Central, with Khar selected for the next phase due to heavy passenger movement and frequent VIP visits.
Railway officials stated that the nano-coating reduces the time needed to clean persistent gutkha and paan stains from roughly 30 minutes to nearly five minutes, as the substances cannot seep deeply into treated materials. The protective coating is projected to last for approximately five years, which could lower recurring expenses spent on repeated scrubbing and repainting.
The rollout coincides with an enforcement drive against unhygienic practices across the Churchgate-Virar suburban corridor. Western Railway registered 12,265 cases of spitting and creating unhygienic conditions across 34 suburban stations between April 1 and July 31, collecting a total of Rs 27.18 lakh in penalties.
Station-level data showed Virar recording the highest number of violations with 1,242 cases and Rs 4.31 lakh collected in fines. Borivali followed with 1,016 cases and Rs 2.09 lakh in penalties. Dadar registered 806 cases, Andheri recorded 756 cases, and Churchgate logged 485 cases during the four-month period.
Western Railway officials emphasised that technological solutions will be paired with continuous enforcement, passenger awareness initiatives, and routine sanitation to maintain cleanliness across high-traffic platforms, staircases, and concourses.
