Lok Sabha Question No. 2770 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-15
Subject: Mechanised Cleaning Techniques
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Amar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2770 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2021

## MECHANISED CLEANING TECHNIQUES

## 2770. DR. AMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of mechanised cleaning techniques introduced by the Indian  Railways  for  maintaining  proper  hygiene,  cleanliness  and sanitation of station premises during the last five years;
- (b) whethe the Ministry is looking at avenues to introduce technology for  cleaning  where  conductive  surfaces  have  not  been  provided and  if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the recommendations in vision 2020 whitepaper on devising a plan to achieve near-zero-waste; and
- (d) whether  the  Ministry  proposed  to  introduce  scrubber  machines having  twin  movement  under  the  adopted  mechanised  cleaning system of Railways and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a)  Indian  Railways  has  introduced  mechanized  cleaning  at  major stations to maintain proper hygiene, cleanliness and sanitation within station  premises.  The  mechanized  cleaning  is  carried  out  using  high behind automatic scrubber dryer, battery operated ride on scrubber, vacuum cleaner,  flippers,  wet  and  dry  vacuum  cleaner  etc.,  along  with  the

- pressure water jets, mechanised floor scrubber, walk requisite material and manpower.

(b)  Efforts  are  also  made  for  mechanized  cleaning  on  non-conducive surface. Ride on road sweeper machines, high pressure jet machines etc are being used in some Railways for slight non-conducive surfaces. Furthermore  cleaning  of  non-conducive  surfaces  are  generally  done using  tools  like  brooms,  hand  scrubbers,  wet  mops,  wipers  etc  with recommended chemicals/cleaning agents.

(c) Indian Railways' Vision 2020 targets prioritisation of sanitation and waste management. Following have been envisaged as thrust area for Indian Railways:

-  Study of each station for its peculiarities to achieve near-zero-waste by adopting the principle of reduction, recycle and re-use.
-  Infrastructure and amenities like water supply, drainage, sewerage, washable  aprons,  properly  designed  platforms  and  'pay  and  use toilets' maintained by competent agencies along with user awareness campaigns.
- 
- Coordination with city authorities.
-  Enhancement  of  train  cleanliness  by  retrofitting  all  coaches  with discharge free green toilets.
- 
- Mechanized cleaning at maintenance terminals.
-  Onboard housekeeping and en-route mechanized cleaning at Clean Train Stations.
- 
- Maximum recycling of water.
-  Professional assistance for pest and rodent control.
- (d)  Scrubbers  as  mentioned  in  Standard  Bid  Document  (SBD)  for mechanised cleaning includes scrubber machines having twin movement i.e.  rotary  action  of  scrubber  and  translational  movement and  the  same  are  being  used  in  mechanised  cleaning  system  over Indian Railways.

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