Eastern Railway has intensified cleanliness drives, waste management initiatives and public awareness campaigns across its divisions under Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 and Special Campaign 6.0, in line with the vision and leadership of General Manager Gitika Pandey.
The initiatives aim to improve station hygiene, promote responsible waste disposal, strengthen environmental sustainability and encourage passengers to actively participate in maintaining clean railway premises.
Strengthening waste management and environmental compliance:
Sealdah Division has finalised and updated its Solid Waste Management (SWM) Action Plan in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. The plan incorporates information on public awareness programmes, waste segregation practices, registrations of Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs) and the mapping of waste-processing facilities.
Operational responsibilities have been assigned to SWM Nodal Officers, Environment and Housekeeping Management (EnHM) personnel, Station Directors and contractors to ensure effective implementation. The consolidated action plan and compliance status were submitted to the zonal railway and Railway Board by the October 15 deadline.
Intensive cleaning across stations:
As part of the campaign, mechanised cleaning operations were conducted at Malda Town, Sahibganj, Jamalpur and Bhagalpur railway stations. Intensive cleaning drives also covered platforms, foot overbridges, railway tracks, waiting halls and toilets across stations to improve hygiene and provide a cleaner environment for commuters.
At Asansol railway station, passengers were sensitised to the importance of disposing of waste in designated bins and informed about the penalties applicable for littering on railway property.
Durgapur station organised interactive awareness programmes to promote waste segregation at source. Passengers were encouraged to use four colour-coded dustbins—green, blue, red and black—as part of efforts to establish responsible waste disposal practices.
Howrah Division also conducted four-stream waste segregation awareness campaigns at Konnagar and Tarakeswar stations, highlighting the importance of recycling and sustainable waste management. Meanwhile, intensive deep-cleaning drives were undertaken at Azimganj and Rampurhat stations to improve sanitation and passenger comfort.
Indian Railways’ contribution to a cleaner environment:
Indian Railways plays a significant role in promoting environmental sustainability through large-scale cleanliness campaigns, mechanised housekeeping, improved waste management and public participation initiatives across its extensive railway network. By encouraging waste segregation, responsible disposal and recycling, such programmes help reduce littering, improve sanitation and create greater awareness of environmental responsibility among millions of daily passengers. Sustained implementation of these measures can also contribute to resource conservation and the development of cleaner, more sustainable public transport infrastructure.
Chief Public Relations Officer of Eastern Railway, Shibram Majhi, emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in maintaining cleanliness, stating, “Cleanliness is a shared responsibility, and together with our passengers, Indian Railways is committed to building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable travel environment for everyone.”
Through Swachhata Pakhwada 2026 and Special Campaign 6.0, Eastern Railway continues to focus on strengthening cleanliness standards, improving waste management practices and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among railway employees, contractors and passengers.
