Northeast Frontier Railway Introduces Biodegradable Bedroll Bags Developed by IIT Guwahati
Reported by Amit Singh
Guwahati, 16th August 2025: For the first time in Indian Railways, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has introduced environment-friendly bedroll bags for onboard linen distribution. The initiative, launched on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, involves the use of around 40,000 biodegradable bags across all NFR trains.
The bags have been developed from a biodegradable, reusable, and compostable synthetic polymer created by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati. Railway officials said the move aims to reduce waste generation, paper consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions, while ensuring hygienic and aesthetically improved services for passengers.
According to NFR, the bags are expected to enhance passenger satisfaction by offering a cleaner and eco-friendly alternative to conventional packaging.
A passenger onboard an NFR train praised the effort, saying, “It feels good to see our young minds at IIT Guwahati thinking out of the box and protecting the environment. I also liked the bags as they are neat and reusable.”
The initiative marks a significant step towards the use of sustainable materials in railway services.
