Mumbai’s suburban railway network is turning to surface technology to tackle a problem that has long added to the maintenance burden at crowded stations: persistent paan and gutkha stains. Western Railway is extending a nano-coating treatment beyond its pilot at Matunga Road, with Dadar and Mumbai Central already covered and Khar included in the next phase. The intervention is aimed at a practical problem rather than simply improving appearances. Paan and gutkha residue can penetrate porous surfaces, making repeated cleaning, repainting and repair necessary. A protective nano-coating creates a barrier that limits such penetration, allowing stains to be removed more easily from treated walls, ceilings, lifts and metal surfaces.
The initial trial at Matunga Road reportedly involved an investment of about ₹5 lakh. Railway officials have indicated that treated surfaces could reduce cleaning time substantially, with difficult stains that may take around half an hour to remove potentially requiring only a few minutes after treatment. The financial case will depend on how long the coating remains effective under Mumbai’s demanding conditions. The treatment is expected to last for several years, which could reduce recurring expenditure on intensive cleaning and surface restoration. For a transport system with heavy daily passenger movement, even modest reductions in maintenance frequency can translate into operational savings over time. The scale of the underlying problem remains significant. Between April 1 and July 31, railway authorities recorded 12,265 cases involving spitting and other unhygienic behaviour across 34 stations on the Churchgate–Virar suburban corridor. Fines collected during the period amounted to ₹27.18 lakh.
Virar reported the highest number of cases at 1,242, followed by Borivali with 1,016. Dadar recorded 806 cases, while Andheri and Churchgate reported 756 and 485 respectively. The figures indicate that surface damage is not an isolated maintenance issue but part of a wider challenge linked to passenger behaviour in high-density public infrastructure. The nano-coating also has potential applications beyond paan stains. Its reported ability to protect surfaces from graffiti, corrosion, weather exposure and everyday wear could extend the useful life of station assets. That could support a more resource-efficient maintenance model by reducing the need for frequent repainting and replacement. However, Mumbai railway stations will not become cleaner through technology alone. Enforcement, passenger awareness and routine maintenance remain necessary to prevent repeated contamination. A durable coating can reduce the cost of cleaning, but it cannot substitute for responsible use of shared public space.
As the treatment expands, Mumbai railway stations provide a useful test of whether preventive infrastructure can deliver better cleanliness with lower recurring maintenance costs while preserving heavily used public assets.
