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Central Railway organised ‘Swachhata Pakhwada-2025’ from 01.10.2025 to 15.10.2025, under the ongoing Special Campaign 5.0, , - a fortnight long cleanliness drive to ensure visible improvement in cleanliness at all places viz. railway stations, trains, offices, colonies, workshops, hospitals, food stalls etc. This drive is part of the Cleanliness Campaign organised by Indian Railways in all Zones, Divisions and Workshops across the country. Cleanliness drives were organised at Stations, Trains, Offices, Workshops & other Railway premises as part of the ‘Swachhata Pakhwada-2025’ with special emphasis on Clean Food, Clean Water & Clean Environment. As part of Swachh Ahar drive Canteens, Food Stalls, in and around station premises were intensively cleaned by the staff running food stalls. Upkeep of stall and quality of food items were inspected by Food Safety Officers(FSO), Chief Health Inspectors(CHI) & Team. Food packets were checked for the expiry date and CHIs interacted with the stall bearers and ascertained about good quality of food sold. CHIs also inspected the vendors for personal hygiene, with specific attention to nail cleanliness and trimming. Trains were also checked randomly especially the Pantry Cars. Waste collection and disposal arrangements within the pantry cars and the functioning and placement of smart bins for waste segregation were checked. Awareness messages on “Clean Food, Healthy Journey” were propagated through pamphlets and verbal interactions with pantry. The medical fitness of pantry car staff, cooks, and bearers was verified to ensure they were free from any communicable diseases. Pantry car staff were briefed on hygiene practices and cleanliness awareness. Swach Ahar drive was conducted at 229 locations and 317 food stalls were inspected / cleaned and more than 400 dustbins were installed. As part of Swachh Neer drive, Central Railway nominated trained staff for water testing and supervise intensive cleaning of water stands and drinking water areas across all divisions. Water Treatment Plants, Water Installations, Filter Houses, Pump Houses and Station premises were checked for the filtration of water i.e. PRE & POST Quality of water was inspected by Chief Health Inspectors. Intensive Cleaning drives were conducted at water installations at Railway Hospitals, Health Units, Railway Schools, Depots, Stations & filling points. Cleanliness and hygiene of filtration plants, pumps, pipelines, and water storage tanks was monitored. Tap areas and water stand areas were scrubbed and cleaned and water stagnation was cleared. Damaged pipes were repaired and replaced & proper stacking of hose pipes were monitored to prevent contamination. Awareness boards displaying “Use Water Wisely – Keep Tap Area Clean” were installed at several stations. Swach Neer drive was conducted at 341 locations and 2784 water booths were cleaned *Swachh Prasadhan & Swachh Paryavaran*- *Clean Toilets & Environment* As part of Swachh Prasadhan drive, cleanliness of toilets across, stations, offices and railway colonies was carried out which aimed to provide safe, accessible and hygienic facilities for passengers and staff. Efforts were undertaken to do deep cleaning using mechanized equipments and tools and use of eco-friendly disinfectants to maintain odour-free and user-friendly facilities. Damaged fittings and fixtures were repaired and care taken to ensure proper lighting and ventilation across toilet areas. As part of Swachh Paryavaran plantation drives were organized to enhance greenery and improve air quality, while efforts were made to segregate waste at source and promote recycling practices. Removal of debris, plastic waste, and scrap materials was carried out to maintain a neat and eco-friendly surrounding. Awareness campaigns were conducted to encourage responsible environmental behaviour among staff and the public. This initiative reinforced Indian Railways’ commitment towards environmental sustainability and the creation of a cleaner, greener ecosystem. A total of 17388 persons participated in Shramdaan activities and 1040 saplings were planted. *Swachh Samvad* Swachh Competition as part of Swachh Samvad has been included as a theme of Swachhata Pakhwada ranking of activities by stations/ units which has greatly helped in encouraging active participation, innovation and creativity. Competitions held across divisions included assessments of station cleanliness, office maintenance, waste segregation practices, and innovative initiatives promoting Swachhata. There was active participation of staff and best-performing stations, offices, and individuals were duly awarded for their exemplary efforts in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene standards. Amrut Samvad was encouraged by Railway staff with passengers at various stations with various activities like Nukkad Natak for information sharing and Feedback from passengers. Around 240 webinars were conducted to create awareness in which more than 7287 persons participated. More than 35 nukkad nataks were organized and more than 780 feedback was received by way of sms from passengers. As part of Special Campaign 5.0, Central Railway undertook activities focusing on Swachhta and systematic disposal of e-waste. The campaign also emphasized thorough cleanliness, improved space management, workplace beautification, environment-friendly initiatives, green practices, and digitization across the network. Special attention was given to direct public engagement, incorporating citizen feedback at stations, and maximizing revenue through disposal of redundant materials and scrap, thereby institutionalizing Swachhta and modern management standards across the railway.
