Mumbai’s railway stations are set to use nanotechnology to tackle stains and unhygienic conditions caused by people spitting paan and gutkha on public surfaces.
The initiative was first launched as a pilot project at Matunga Road station, at a cost of around ₹5 lakh. Following encouraging results, Western Railway has begun expanding the technology to other busy stations.
The nano-coating has already been applied at Dadar and Mumbai Central stations, while Khar station has been included in the next phase. Khar was reportedly selected because of its heavy passenger footfall and frequent visits by VIPs.
German technology-based coating
The treatment uses special products based on German nanotechnology, including ‘Wallguard’ and ‘Metalguard’. The coating can be applied to walls, ceilings, lifts and various metal surfaces.
The technology prevents paan and gutkha stains from penetrating deep into the surface, making them easier to remove. The coating is also designed to protect surfaces against graffiti, corrosion, weather-related damage and regular wear and tear.
Cleaning time could drop from 30 minutes to 5
According to railway officials, removing stubborn paan and gutkha stains currently takes around 30 minutes in some cases. With nano-coated surfaces, however, stains are less likely to penetrate deeply and could potentially be cleaned in around five minutes.
The coating is expected to remain effective for nearly five years, which could reduce the recurring costs associated with cleaning, repainting and repairing stained surfaces.
Over 12,000 cases recorded in four months
Alongside the technological intervention, Western Railway has intensified its crackdown on passengers who spit or create unhygienic conditions at stations.
Between April 1 and July 31, 2026, a total of 12,265 cases of spitting and creating unhygienic conditions were recorded across 34 suburban stations on the Churchgate–Virar corridor. Railway authorities collected ₹27.18 lakh in fines during the period.
Virar recorded the highest number, with 1,242 cases and fines amounting to ₹4.31 lakh. It was followed by Borivali, with 1,016 cases and ₹2.09 lakh in fines. Dadar recorded 806 cases, Andheri 756, and Churchgate 485 cases.
Railways to combine technology with enforcement
Western Railway has made it clear that nanotechnology alone will not solve the cleanliness problem. The nano-coating will be used alongside fines, passenger awareness campaigns and regular cleaning.
With millions of passengers using Mumbai’s suburban railway network every day, keeping walls, pillars, staircases and other public spaces clean remains a major challenge.
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