Agartala, August 16, 2025: The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has launched an eco-friendly initiative in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati to replace single-use plastic with biodegradable alternatives, aiming to boost environmental sustainability across its network.

As part of a pilot project, NFR has introduced green bed-roll bags made of bio-plastic for distributing linen to passengers, replacing conventional plastic packaging. Developed at IIT-Guwahati’s in-house research and development facility, these bags are designed to degrade quickly in compost, officials said.

The initiative was formally rolled out on August 15, with nearly 40,000 biodegradable bags being distributed across 25 trains originating from terminals in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.

Railway officials said the move not only improves passenger convenience but also helps reduce landfill waste, cut down carbon emissions and conserve natural resources. “The collaboration with IIT-Guwahati reflects NFR’s commitment to practical, scalable and greener railway operations,” an official release stated.

Beyond this initiative, NFR has been undertaking multiple green measures including rapid electrification of railway lines, installation of solar energy systems, AI-based intrusion detection to safeguard elephants, rainwater harvesting, automatic coach washing plants and the use of bio-toilets.