ER Press Release: 2025/04/52
EASTERN RAILWAY COMBINES STRICT ENFORCEMENT AND KIND GESTURES TO PROMOTE CLEANLINESS
Kolkata, April 13, 2025;
Eastern Railway is making concerted efforts to ensure cleanliness at station premises and maintain waste-free railway tracks across its network. While the task remains challenging—especially in suburban stations with high passenger footfall—the Railway is resolute in its mission to create a cleaner, safer, and more pleasant travel environment.
One of the major hurdles faced is the prevalent practice among some passengers and rail users of indiscriminately spitting and littering on platforms and station premises. This behaviour not only hampers the station’s aesthetic appeal but also poses serious environmental and operational concerns.
To combat this issue, Eastern Railway has launched a series of comprehensive awareness campaigns at various stations, aimed at educating passengers and rail users about the importance of cleanliness. These campaigns are conducted on a regular basis with active involvement from Health Department personnel, Railway Protection Force (RPF), and station staff.
The initiative focuses on promoting responsible waste disposal, discouraging littering, and reinforcing the prohibition of spitting in public areas. As part of the drive, station facilities were assessed thoroughly, and officials directly engaged with the railway community—including passengers, vendors, and staff—to emphasize the critical role each individual plays in maintaining hygiene and sanitation.
In a firm move to curb littering and spitting, a total of 31,576 individuals were penalized over the past three months i.e. from January to March 2025, resulting in the collection of Rs. 32,31,740 as fines. These measures aim not only to enforce discipline but also to instil a long-term change in behaviour.
The intensive drive is continuing at different stations e.g. on Saturday (12.4.2025) a special cleanliness drive conducted at Ballygunje to curb spitting/littering / smoking at Railway premises including Railway stations, platforms and even on Railway track. About 15 people were apprehended from Ballygunje on that day for littering at platforms or railway track.
In a heartening gesture, passengers and vendors who exhibited exemplary cleanliness habits were recognized and encouraged with the distribution of rose flowers, symbolizing appreciation and the positive impact of individual action.
Eastern Railway remains committed to upholding cleanliness standards and urges all rail users to join hands in keeping the stations and tracks clean—for a healthier, more dignified rail journey.
