From Plain to Patterned: Railways Introduces Traditional Sanganeri Designs in AC Coaches

From Plain to Patterned: Railways Introduces Traditional Sanganeri Designs in AC Coaches

Indian Railways has also brought a colour change to its air-conditioned coaches, and instead of plain white blankets, this change has brought by using Sanganeri print covers. The move aims to enhance comfort to the passengers, increase hygiene, showcase the rich cultural heritage of India and modernise the travelling experience.

The origins of Sanganeri prints are in Sanganer, near Jaipur, in Rajasthan, and they are renowned for their floral designs and hand-blocked designs. It is an ancient art that applies natural dyes and fine designs to each of the blankets, making them unique. With the help of such prints, the Railways also beautifies its coaches and can promote the traditional art of India, giving support to the local craftsmen and the artisans of the region.

The new blankets can be washed in full, which is a solution to the problem of hygiene that has consistently been a major concern among the passengers. Simple white blankets, though practical, were thought not to be clean after multiple uses. The provision of patterned blankets is the means to ensure that passengers can receive both aesthetic qualities and increased levels of cleanliness. The colourful designs also add to the enjoyable travelling environment, besides the hygiene, making ordinary trips into visual delights.

The pilot project was initially introduced on the Jaipur-Asarwa Express, with positive feedback from the passengers, with the increased appeal and comfort. Indian Railways will introduce the initiative to other AC coaches in the country depending on the success of its implementation. Even the future expansions can be focused on prints of other territories and demonstrate the variety of Indian traditional crafts, and the variety of cultural promotion on train travel.

This project is part of the larger Vocal for Local effort, which gives artisans a chance to be known and continue their practice. The compatibility of tradition with the modern passenger demands is making Indian Railways develop a travelling experience that is not only respectful to the cultural heritage but also takes into consideration modern demands.

The Sanganeri print blankets are an example of how useful upgrades of the public transport can be practical and also culturally enriching. To the passengers, the new covers will provide more hygienic and cleaner bedding with a certain aspect of artistry, which will add value to the journey. In the case of the Railways, this will be one of the steps in achieving a combination of design, comfort, and heritage into the daily life of travelling by the coach and making the experience of the AC coach ride aesthetically pleasing and culturally significant.