Southern Railway’s Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign: Massive Cleanliness Drive Organised at 360 railway stations, 43 railway colonies, 47 maintenance depots and workshops, 30 Health Units, and 30 running rooms, encompassing over 1200 locations throughout the zone.
–Southern Railway Paving the Way for a Cleaner India: 12,000 volunteers, including Railway officials, students, Scouts & Guides, NGOs, rail passengers, and the general public, actively engaged in this noble endeavour.
Chennai, 01 October (City Times): Southern Railway’s Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign: In a remarkable display of commitment to cleanliness, Southern Railway embarked on its ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign on October 1, 2023, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. This massive cleanliness drive, driven by the theme “Garbage Free India,” spanned a staggering 360 railway stations, 43 railway colonies, 47 maintenance depots and workshops, 30 Health Units, and 30 running rooms, encompassing over 1200 locations throughout the zone. Impressively, more than 12,000 volunteers, including Railway officials, students, Scouts & Guides, NGOs, rail passengers, and the general public, actively engaged in this noble endeavour.
Southern Railway’s Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign: Leadership in Action
The inauguration of the Swachhata Hi Seva Cleanliness campaign was graced by the presence of R.N. Singh, General Manager of Southern Railway. He kickstarted the drive at Chennai Egmore, where he exemplified his commitment by participating in Shramdaan, along with esteemed dignitaries like P. Suresh, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer, P. Mahesh, Senior Dy. General Manager, Challam, Chief Project Manager/Gati Sakti, and dedicated Officers and Staff of Southern Railway.
Southern Railway’s Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign: ’14-minute miracle’ Cleanliness Drive at Dr. MGR Chennai Central
Additionally, Kaushal Kishore, the Additional General Manager of Southern Railway, joined forces with B. Viswanath Eerya, Divisional Railway Manager, Chennai, and a dedicated team of Officers and staff to actively participate in the Swachhata Hi Seva Cleanliness drive at Dr. MGR Chennai Central. During this event, a unique ’14-minute miracle’ Cleaning session was executed for the Coimbatore – Dr MGR Vande Bharat Express upon its arrival at Dr. MGR Chennai Central.
Southern Railway’s Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign: A Collective Effort
The zeal for cleanliness extended across the hierarchy of Southern Railway, with Principal Heads of Departments, Officers, and Staff participating wholeheartedly in various locations. This campaign witnessed not only the enthusiasm of students but also the unwavering support of Scouts & Guides, NGOs, Volunteers, rail passengers, and the general public.
Southern Railway’s Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign: Divisional Railway Managers Leading the Way
At all six divisions of Southern Railway, namely Chennai, Salem, Tiruchchirappalli, Madurai, Palakkad, and Thiruvananthapuram, Divisional Railway Managers played pivotal roles in spearheading the special cleanliness campaign. Their leadership ensured the successful execution of diverse events, including Shramdaan, Cleanliness rallies, Tree plantation drives, and the commendable gesture of honouring Cleanliness workers (Safai Karamcharis).
Southern Railway’s Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign: The ’14-Minute Miracle’
A standout feature of the Swachhata Hi Seva Cleaning Program was the introduction of the ’14-minute miracle.’ This pioneering scheme, launched as a pilot project for three incoming rakes of Vande Bharat, aimed to streamline and expedite the cleaning process. By executing a thorough cleaning of the trains within just 14 minutes, the scheme not only saves valuable time for passengers embarking on return journeys but also ensures that passengers board a cleaner train promptly.
Southern Railway’s Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign: Swift and Effective Cleaning
The effectiveness of the ’14-minute miracle’ scheme was demonstrated during the cleaning of three Vande Bharat Express trains. Train No. 20644 Coimbatore – Chennai Vande Bharat, Train No. 20666 Tirunelveli – Chennai Egmore Vande Bharat, and Train No. 20634 Thiruvananthapuram – Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express were all efficiently cleaned within the 14-minute timeframe upon their arrival at their respective destination stations.
These successful trials serve as a testament to the scheme’s potential in enhancing the overall quality of rail services. Feedback from passengers and stakeholders will be instrumental in refining and expanding the initiative. Notably, this program draws parallels with Japan’s renowned Bullet Train cleanliness initiative.
As Southern Railway continues to lead by example, it not only contributes to a cleaner and more hygienic travel experience but also reinforces the importance of collective responsibility towards a ‘Garbage Free India.’
