Lok Sabha Question No. 3962 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-18
Subject: Modernisation and Sanitation at Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Hemant Patil, Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  3962 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2020

## MODERNISATION AND SANITATION AT STATIONS

3962.  SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL:

SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  factual  position  of  campaign  launched  for  modernisation  and sanitation of railway stations in the country;
- (b)  the  measures  taken  for  sanitation,  cleanliness  and  maintenance  of coaches under rail passenger services;
- (c)  the  details  of highly  damaged and quite old Railway rakes which need immediate replacement; and
- (d) the names of individual passenger trains being run with these rakes along with the names of originating and terminating stations?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3962 BY SHRI HEMANT SRIRAM PATIL, SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL, DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL AND SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 18.03.2020 REGARDING MODERNISATION AND SANITATION AT STATIONS.

(a) and (b): Modernisation/upgradation of Railway stations is a continuous and on-going process.

Special attention is given towards cleanliness and every endeavour is made to keep  the  stations  &  coaches  including  toilets  in  properly  maintained  and clean  condition.  Some  of  the  major  initiatives  taken  by  Indian  Railways towards improvement of cleanliness are as follows:

- (i) Special Cleanliness  Campaign  under  Swachh  Bharat  Abhiyan  was launched  on  Indian Railways  on  2nd  October,  2014. Regular intensive campaigns / drives have been organised since then over the Indian Railways with the sole objective to achieve significant and sustainable improvements in cleanliness standards. The campaigns/drives include display of posters/banners,  announcements  over  public  announcement  system,  wide participation  of  staff  and  involvement  of  social/charitable  organizations  and NGOs, 'Nukkad Nataks' on cleanliness theme etc.

(ii) Provision  of  Mechanised  cleaning  contracts  with  improved  processes and machinery at major stations has been intensified. Currently, mechanised cleaning is done at nearly 950 stations.

(iii) The coaches running on Indian Railways(IR) are given periodic stipulated maintenance schedules during which required repairs are attended to.

IR is also proliferating bio-toilets on its coaching stock so that no human waste is discharged from coaches on to the track.  More than 68,000 coaches have been fitted with Bio-toilets.  Dustbins are also being provided in all biotoilet fitting coaches as well.

- (iv) Cleaning  of  coaches  including  toilets  of  trains  is  done  at  both  ends including mechanised cleaning. (v) Coverage of On Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) has been increased. Currently, it is provided in more than 1100 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. (vi) 'Coach Mitra' facility has been introduced in about 1060 pairs of OBHS trains.    'Coach  Mitra'  is  a  single  window  interface  to  register  coach  related requirements  of passengers  such  as  cleaning, disinfection, linen, train lighting, air conditioning and watering of coaches. (vii) Third party audit and ranking of 720 major stations on cleanliness has been carried out during 2019 in order to identify weak points requiring more attention  on  cleanliness,  to  get  feedback  and  instill  healthy  competition.  A third party survey for assessment of cleanliness of 209 important trains has also been carried out recently. (viii) CCTV monitoring of cleanliness has now been extended to 770 stations. (ix) Ban on plastic of less than 50 micron thickness and single use plastic at railway stations has been made effective w.e.f. 11.09.2019. (x) Standard  bid  document  (SBD)  and  General  Condition  of  Contract  for Services (GCCS) have been issued to improve effectiveness of cleaning/housekeeping contracts. (xi) Enforcement of Indian Railways (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at railway premises) Rules, 2012 has been intensified. The coaches running on Indian Railways (IR) are given periodic maintenance as per norms wherein all the safety and amenity fittings are examined for good working condition and defective components are repaired or replaced. Proper cleaning and full watering of all coaches is also ensured

during maintenance.

(c)  and (d): Indian Railways puts into use only those coaches, for running of passengers  carrying  trains,  which  are  fit  in  all  respect  and  are  within  their Codal life.    Besides,  old/damaged  coaches  are  replaced  by  new  coaches  on the basis of age-cum-condition.  Further, in its endeavour to provide better and safer  journey  to  the  travelling  passengers,  Indian  Railways  have  decided  to proliferate/induct  modern  Linke  Hofmann  Busch  (LHB)  coaches  and  convert trains  operating  with  conventional  coaches  by  LHB  coaches,  in  a  phased manner. Systems are in place in order to ensure that passenger coaches that have completed their prescribed service life, are not allowed in train service in IR. Replacement of in-service passenger coaches from trains on age-cumcondition basis is a continual process.

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