Lok Sabha Question No. 79 (STARRED), answered on 2026-02-04
Subject: Cleanliness of Washrooms in Train
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Sribharat Mathukumilli

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 79 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026

## CLEANLINESS OF WASHROOMS IN TRAIN

- *79. SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  current  measures  in  place  to  ensure  cleanliness  and  hygiene  of washrooms  in  passenger  train  coaches  including  cleaning  frequency, staffing arrangements, contractual mechanisms and monitoring protocols;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any inspection, audit, passenger feedback  analysis/internal  assessment  during  the  last  five  years  to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures and if so, the key findings thereof;
- (c)  the details of infrastructure/design changes last undertaken in normal Express and Mail coaches specifically to improve washroom hygiene and usability;
- (d) whether the Government has examined alternative operational staffing models including deployment of dedicated on-board washroom cleaning personnel during journeys to improve washroom cleanliness and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether  the  feasibility  of  funding  such  measures  through  a  minimal, class-wise passenger fare adjustment has been examined and if so, the outcome of such examination?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  STARRED QUESTION NO.79 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026 IN LOK SABHA

(a)  to  (e):  Cleanliness  is  a  continuous  process  and  Indian  Railways  (IR) makes every endeavour to keep coaches in properly maintained and clean condition. Railways have taken several measures as follows to monitor and ensure cleanliness and hygiene in coaches including washrooms:

-  Mechanized  Coach  Cleaning  is  being  ensured  during  primary maintenance for better cleaning of the coach including interior, exterior and toilets.
-  On-Board Housekeeping Staff Service is being provided to ensure cleanliness on run and to attend to any passenger grievance.
-  Clean Train Station service has been introduced for mechanized cleaning  in  identified  trains  including  washrooms  during  their scheduled stoppage enroute. Dedicated team of staff equipped with high pressure jet machines and cleaning equipment carries out cleaning followed by drying of coach toilets.
-  All passenger coaches have been installed with bio-toilets so that no  human  waste  is  discharged  from  coaches  on  the  track resulting in improved cleanliness level. The details of provision of bio toilets are as under:
-  Regular  monitoring  is  done  through  inspections,  and  feedback received  through  Rail  Madad/RailOne  app  and  other  passenger interfaces.

| Period         | Number of Bio-Toilet fitted   |
|----------------|-------------------------------|
| 2004-2014      | 9,587                         |
| 2014-till date | 3,61,572                      |

IR has dedicated budgetary provisions for maintaining cleanliness & hygiene at  stations  and  trains.  No  component  of  passenger  fare  is  charged  on account of providing cleanliness.

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