The Indian Railway Board is rolling out a new plan to significantly boost cleanliness across its stations and on board its trains, aiming for a better travel experience for all passengers.
Boosting Station Cleanliness
In a major push for hygiene, the Railway Board has instructed all Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) to pinpoint 10 specific areas at each railway station that require dedicated cleaning attention. This directive underscores the importance of cleanliness in ensuring passenger satisfaction.
The identified areas will not be static. The board emphasizes that this will be a dynamic process, with new spots needing attention every 7-10 days. This ensures continuous improvement and a proactive approach to maintaining high standards.
Real-Time Monitoring and Accountability
To keep a close eye on these efforts, the daily cleaning work at stations is being monitored through the Railway Board’s dedicated ‘Swachh Station’ WhatsApp group. Stations and divisions are required to upload picture or video evidence of improvements daily, ensuring transparency and accountability across the network.
This digital oversight allows for real-time appreciation and identification of areas that might need further intervention, fostering a culture of constant cleanliness.
Daily Reviews on the Horizon
Further strengthening the new initiatives, the Railway Board will begin daily reviews starting July 1, 2025. These reviews will involve one or two shortlisted divisions, chosen randomly, every afternoon around 4 PM.
The specific station or division scheduled for review on any given day will be announced on the community group by 3 PM. This structured review process is set to ensure consistent and high-level attention to cleanliness across the vast railway network.
Clean Trains Get an Upgrade Too
Beyond stations, the Railways has also taken a significant step to improve hygiene on trains. Last month, it revamped its more than two-decade-old Clean Train Station (CTS) scheme. The aim is to enhance the cleaning process of train coaches with minimal disruption to train operations.
Understanding the Clean Train Station Scheme
The original CTS scheme was launched in October 2002 by the Ministry of Railways. It was designed to meet the growing demand for cleaner train coaches and toilets, ensuring a more pleasant journey for passengers.
The scheme involves a mechanized, en-route cleaning process of trains during their scheduled halts at specific stations on major routes. The revamped version of this crucial scheme is now being implemented at 20 designated locations, covering a total of 683 trains.
- Railway Board mandates DRMs identify 10 key areas for enhanced cleaning at each station.
- Cleanliness efforts are monitored daily via a ‘Swachh Station’ WhatsApp group with photo/video evidence required.
- Daily random reviews of divisions by the Railway Board will commence from July 1, 2025.
- The Clean Train Station (CTS) scheme, for on-board train cleaning, has been revamped and expanded.
These comprehensive measures underscore Indian Railways’ commitment to ensuring a cleaner and more comfortable travel experience for millions of passengers nationwide.
