Railways rolls out tech-enabled onboard cleaning reform for long distance trains

The railway ministry on Saturday launched a reform to improve cleanliness on long-distance trains by deploying tech-enabled professional teams onboard.

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said all coaches, including general class, will now be cleaned as and when required during the journey.

Under the existing Clean Train Station scheme, trains are cleaned at designated stations en route. Under the new system, trained staff deployed onboard will carry out cleaning at hourly intervals or as required, he said.

“This will be done by establishing clear responsibility and accountability for deployed service providers and engaging professional, self-disciplined and proactive teams that exceed customer expectations,” Vaishnaw told reporters.

Monitoring, feedback and performance management will be conducted on a real-time basis with the help of technology, he added.

The services will include cleaning of coaches, toilets and basins; garbage collection; attending to minor repairs; coordinating water refilling as required; and checking and reporting the status of safety equipment. Trained supervisors and service staff will carry out the work.

“Frequency of cleaning will be regulated based on peak and non-peak hours, and war rooms will be created to monitor the cleaning process with the help of technology,” Vaishnaw said.

According to the minister, 80 trains have been identified for implementation of the reform. Based on the experience, the system will be extended to other trains.

In a separate reform, Vaishnaw announced that cargo-related facilities will be permitted on spare railway land to boost freight operations. Development of warehouses, grinding units, and processing and aggregation units will be allowed. Underutilised godowns will be developed as Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals and cargo facilities.

Efforts will be made to facilitate easier migration of sidings and private freight terminals into Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals through a simplified process, he said. A framework for dispute prevention has also been outlined in the policy, with dispute resolution powers delegated to divisional railway managers.

(With inputs from PTI)