Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited Central Railway’s Wadi Bunder coaching depot in Mumbai to assess the facility’s safety measures and review its efforts towards innovation in rail operations. The Wadi Bunder depot, one of the oldest in the Central Railway network since its establishment in 1860, is responsible for maintaining rakes of over 30 mail-express trains, including the Vande Bharat Express. During the inspection, Vaishnaw evaluated the depot’s infrastructure and discussed plans for future upgrades aimed at enhancing service reliability, cleanliness, and overall passenger safety. The minister praised the depot's best from waste exhibition, which showcased an in-house designed litter collector, reflecting innovative approaches to maintaining cleanliness. He also demonstrated the use of advanced cleaning equipment, including the Dyson vacuum cleaner employed in the 14-minute miracle cleaning process for the Vande Bharat Express, emphasising a commitment to passenger comfort. In addition, Vaishnaw inspected improvements made to Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, such as the installation of TPU rings to reduce spring failures, a move expected to improve ride comfort and safety. Highlighting the use of technology in ensuring operational safety, the minister observed advanced tools like the ultra-sonic air leakage detection system and the FIBA (Flushing Indicator and Brake Application) system, which are already enhancing safety on trains like the Rajdhani Express. The minister was also briefed on the use of Virtual Reality (VR) for staff training and the integration of IoT-based real-time water level monitoring systems, which ensure uninterrupted clean water access for passengers. Vaishnaw visited the Vande Bharat store, the basic training center, and inspected in-house models used for LHB coach training. He also interacted with the Rail Madad team, which handles passenger grievances, and expressed satisfaction with their work. Additionally, the minister reviewed the depot’s fire safety preparedness, including a new app developed to manage fire extinguisher maintenance, further strengthening safety measures at the facility. (ET)