Railway Board overhauls cleanliness standards for long-distance trains
Following repeated passenger complaints, the Railway Board directed focused, end-to-end monitoring measures for long-distance services, moving away from brief cleanups at originating stations to sustained upkeep throughout the journey
The Indian Railways Railway Board has introduced strict new standards to improve cleanliness on long-distance trains, following numerous passenger complaints about poor upkeep, malfunctioning bio-toilets, and unhygienic conditions. In a directive to all railway zones, the board outlined a comprehensive monitoring system for long-distance services, shifting away from brief cleanings at origin stations to continuous upkeep throughout the journey.
Eleven high-priority trains, each covering a distance of 1,700 km to 4,158 km per trip, were identified for enhanced oversight. These trains include the 22503/04 Vivek Express between Dibrugarh and Kanniyakumari, the 15909/10 Avadh Assam Express between Dibrugarh and Lalgarh, and several others. The Railway Board emphasized that deficiencies in housekeeping, toilets, waste management, and minor coach amenities should be addressed promptly during the journey.
The Railway Board has taken ownership of these trains, with maintenance supervisors and Coaching Depot Officers (CDOs) responsible for monitoring cleanliness. Zonal Railways will review cleanliness status weekly, and On-Board Housekeeping Services (OBHS) agencies will also be closely monitored. OBHS performance data has been integrated with the Rail Madad system, enabling better tracking and assessment of agencies based on their performance.
Divisions will be responsible for monitoring trains within their jurisdictions, with a focus on service quality. Divisions with nominated en-route inspection points will ensure regular inspections of identified trains. Recurring complaints and deficiencies will be analyzed to determine root causes and implement corrective actions promptly.
The initiative also includes en-route petty repairs, with dedicated teams comprising plumbers, electrical personnel, and other maintenance staff trained to handle minor issues. En-route garbage collection every two hours will prevent garbage from being thrown onto the tracks, with collected waste handed over to nominated garbage disposal or CTS points for appropriate disposal.
The focus is on maintaining sustained cleanliness, serviceability, and quality of passenger amenities throughout the journey, rather than just improving at the originating station.
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