North Eastern Railway has designated Gorakhpur, Chhapra and Aishbagh railway stations as ‘Clean Stations’ under its Clean Train-Clean Station initiative. As part of the programme, 75 trains passing through these stations are being cleaned every day, 37 at Gorakhpur Junction, 14 at Aishbagh Junction and 24 at Chhapra Junction. Cleaning work has been proposed for a total of 129 trains at these three stations.
Under the Clean Train scheme, the On-Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS) facility has been provided in 162 trains of North Eastern Railway. This includes 92 trains of the Lucknow Division, 40 of the Varanasi Division and 30 of the Izzatnagar Division.
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Chief Public Relations Officer Pankaj Kumar Singh said that two major schemes are being implemented for train cleanliness under the Clean Train-Clean Station programme. The first is the On-Board Housekeeping Service, under which cleaning staff are deployed on trains during their journey to maintain cleanliness inside the coaches. Passengers can also request cleaning assistance at any time by calling the Rail Madad helpline number 139. OBHS staff carry all necessary cleaning equipment, including wipers, cloths, dusters, disposal bags, commode brushes and cleaning chemicals.
Garbage generated during cleaning is collected in designated garbage bags and disposed of at identified Clean Train Stations, from where it is sent to approved waste disposal points. Similarly, waste collected after cleaning trains at their destination stations is also sent for proper disposal.
The second initiative is the Clean Train Station scheme, under which through-passing trains are cleaned during their halt at designated stations. Long-distance trains undergo intensive cleaning during these halts, including thorough cleaning of toilets, coaches, floors, washbasins and waste disposal areas using high-pressure water jets and modern cleaning machines. Quality chemicals are used to maintain hygiene standards.
Railway officials said the initiative has helped prevent littering on platforms and significantly improved cleanliness standards at stations and in trains, enhancing passenger comfort and hygiene.