Stalls at railway stations were partly affected as they had to stop takeaway services for liquid food items. Otherwise, it was business as usual.
“Before the ban, we were providing plastic straws for beverages and plastic bags for food takeaway, which we have stopped completely. The only plastic items we have now are sealed bottles that come from manufacturers,” said R.P. Singh, a stall manager at Andheri station.
The railways have issued directives to all stall owners to not store banned plastic items. “We’re also conducting an extensive awareness campaign with special focus on stations for long-distance trains. Many arriving in the city in the next few days might not be aware of the ban,” said Ravinder Bhakar, CPRO, Western Railway.
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Ravindra Mishra, a stall operator for 10 years at Dadar, said the railways traditionally has had little to do with loose plastic. “The bulk of plastic generated in the suburban system comes from pre-packaged food items like chips, bottled water and soft drinks. At stalls, food is served in steel plates and tea or juices in paper, glass or ceramic cups.”
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has installed four plastic bottle crushing machines, two at CSTM and one each at Churchgate and Mumbai Central, which will soon be operational.