Lok Sabha Question No. 472 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-28
Subject: Hygiene and Cleanliness at Railway Platforms/Tracks
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Pratyusha Rajeshwari Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 472 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2018

## HYGIENE AND CLEANLINESS AT RAILWAY PLATFORMS/TRACKS

- *472. SHRIMATI PRATYUSHA RAJESHWARI SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Railways  has  taken  note  of  lack  of  hygiene  and sanitation  at  the  platforms  and  in  running  trains  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (b) the fresh measures taken by the Government under the Swachh Bharat Mission and other programmes/schemes to ensure overall hygiene  and  cleanliness  on  railway  tracks,  running  trains  and railway stations?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COAL (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) & (b) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  AND  (b)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 472 BY SHRIMATI PRATYUSHA RAJESHWARI SINGH TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 28.03.2018  REGARDING  HYGIENE  AND  CLEANLINESS  AT  RAILWAY PLATFORMS/TRACKS

- (a)  Maintenance  of  cleanliness  is  a  continuous  process  and  every endeavour is made to keep the stations/platforms and trains including toilets  in  clean  condition.  However,  a  few  complaints  are  received. All efforts are made by the Railways to address the complaints.
- (b)  Some  of  the  major  initiatives  taken  by  Indian  Railways  towards improvement of cleanliness of stations, tracks and in running trains are as follows:
- (i) Introduction  of  mechanised  cleaning  process,  award  of  rag picking/garbage disposal contracts at stations.
- (ii) Concrete washable aprons on platform tracks are provided to facilitate clearing of night soil on platform lines by washing with water jets.
- (iii) Provision of clean and hygienic toilets including pay and use toilets at stations.
- (iv) Rag picking from railway tracks is also being done.
- (v) Cleaning of coaches including toilets of trains is done at both ends including mechanized cleaning.
- (vi) On Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) has been provided in more  than  980  pairs  of  trains  including  Rajdhani,  Shatabdi and  other  important  long  distance  Mail/Express  trains  for cleaning  of  coach  toilets,  doorways,  aisles  and  passenger compartments during the run of the trains.
- (vii) On  demand  'Clean  My  Coach'  service  is  provided  in  nearly 970  pairs  of  important  Superfast/Mail/Express  long  distance trains having On Board Housekeeping Service.
- (viii) By  expanding  the  scope  of  'Clean  My  Coach',  'Coach  Mitra' service  is  now  being  provided  in  OBHS  trains  as  a  single window interface  to  register  coach  related  requirements  of passengers  such  as  cleaning,  disinfestation,  linen, train lighting,  air  conditioning  and  watering  of  coaches.  'Coach Mitra'  facility  has  been  introduced  in  about  800  pairs  of trains.
- (ix) Clean Train Station (CTS) scheme has also been prescribed for limited mechanized cleaning attention to identified trains including cleaning of toilets during their scheduled stoppages enroute at nominated stations.
- (x) Earlier,  dustbins  were  provided  in  AC  Coaches  only.  Now, provision of dustbin is also being done in Non-AC coaches.
- (xi) Indian  Railways  is  proliferating  bio-toilets  on  its  coaching stock so that no human waste is discharged from coaches on to the track. Nearly 1,20,000 bio-toilets have been fitted on around 33,000 coaches. In order to demonstrate the advantage of fitment of Bio-toilets, 22 Green corridors have been  made  functional,  having  zero  human  waste  discharge from trains.
- (xii) Cleanliness awareness campaigns are carried out for awareness and education of the rail users.
- (xiii) Regular  checks  are  conducted  at  officers  /  supervisors levels, and corrective action is taken wherever any deficiency is noticed.
- (xiv) Enforcement of Indian Railway (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at railway premises) Rules, 2012.

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