As part of their efforts to improve cleanliness at railway stations, the South Western Railways (SWR) has provided On Board Housekeeping Service at 47 railway stations, said A.K. Gupta, General Manager, SWR.
Speaking to presspersons after taking part in a walkathon held as part of the campaign titled ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’, Mr. Gupta said the Coach Mitra (58888) SMS/web-based facility has been made available in all trains with On Board Housekeeping services for the redressal of the grievances of the passengers related to on board coach cleaning.
Intensive cleaning of coaches is being carried out on all three divisions. The SWR maintains 3,037 coaches, of which 1,478 have already been fitted with bio-toilets. Another 460 will be retrofitted with bio-toilets by the end of this financial year and the remaining 1,099 will meet the target by December 2018. Mechanised laundries are functional at Hubballi, Mysuru and Bengaluru. One more mechanised laundry of 2 tonne capacity has been planned at Vasco-da-gama. One more water recycling plant of 50,000 litres per day capacity is under construction at Hubballi, he added.
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As part of Swachhta Hi Seva Abhiyan that is being observed from September 15 to October 2, SWR organised a walkathon to create awareness on cleanliness. The walkathon, in which SWR officials and staff participated, began at Rail Soudha and reached Cement Chawl Railway Colony via Vidyaranyanagar.
Chief mechanical engineer P.A. Lamghare, students of Railway English Medium High School and Kendriya Vidyalaya, Scouts & Guides, officers and staff participated and displayed placards and chanted slogans on cleanliness. The SWR staff also performed a skit highlighting the importance of cleanliness.