WR organizes exhibition on Swacchta Pakhwada at Ahmedabad railway station

Spread awareness on maintaining cleanliness in railway premises and ban on use of single use plastics over Indian Railways.

On the 14th day of ‘Swachhta Hi Sewa’ Pakhwada, the theme of “Swachh Competition” was observed over the entire Western Railway, where efforts were made to inculcate a sense of healthy competition for maintaining cleanliness in railway premises. On this occasion, Western Railway organised an exhibition at Ahmedabad railway station to highlight the need for maintaining cleanliness in railway surroundings and also to inform the public about the ban on the use of single use plastics over Indian Railways.

This two day exhibition was inaugurated by Deepak Kumar Jha- Divisional Railway Manager of Ahmedabad Division and is being held at the concourse hall of Ahmedabad railway station on 29th and 30th September, 2019.

According to a press release issued by WR CPRO Ravinder Bhakar, Swachh Competition drive was intensively conducted over W. Rly wherein various activities were initiated to inculcate a healthy competition amongst the various stakeholders urging to maintain cleanliness in railway premises. As a part of series of events during the Swachhta Pakhwada, Jagjivan Ram Railway Hospital, Mumbai Central in collaboration with eArth Samvarta Foundation (eSF) organised an awareness programme.

An exhibition of children’s painting was inaugurated by Archana Gupta – President of Western Railway Women’s Welfare Organization. This was followed by a play on cleanliness and prize distribution.

Saurabh Trivedi, Chief Security Commissioner of RPF, W. Rly conducted an intensive mass awareness campaign on Swatchh Bharat and Anti littering drive at Mahim station and the adjoining slum area. Around 80 persons participated in this awareness drive in which RPF staff of Mumbai Central Division, MSF, NGO – Child Helpline, BMC sanitation Marshal and media personnel were present. The residents of the area were informed about the ill – effects of littering on health and also the dangers posing in railway movement. They were educated about the adverse environmental and health impact due to littering, besides, the waste being a fire hazard. They were also cautioned about trespass on railway tracks.

Residents of the slums enthusiastically participated in the campaign and assured their cooperation in the swacchta campaign. Along with the above, awareness about sanitation was spread through formation of human chain at platform premises, station area and FOB and the traveling public were informed about the penal provisions of Railway Act against littering at various other stations too.

Bhakar stated that during the drive on the occasion of Swachh Competition, over Mumbai Division, Churchgate station was deep cleaned in the intermittent night of 28th & 29th September, 2019. All Platforms and Mini Lobby area were Deep Cleaned by deploying 15 Housekeeping staff at night shift. This new and innovative concept of Deep Cleaning will be undertaken once in a month of a station with maximum deployment of staff at Night Hours during Sunday or Holiday.

Massive shramdaan was done by Reliance Jio, railway officers and employees at various stations on this day across Western Railway. In Mumbai Division, more than 1000 volunteers of Reliance Jio, 22 Officers and 17 supervisory staff of railways were deputed for conducting and organizing shramdaan by Reliance Jio at selected stations such as Churchgate, Bandra, Santacruz, Andheri, Goregaon, Borivali, Mira Road, Vasai Road, Virar, Boisar, Palghar, Vapi, Billimora, Valsad, Navsari, Surat and Amalner.

Along with Shramdaan, passengers were also approached and importance of cleanliness was shared. During the drive around 2800 (Kg) plastic waste collected. In Ahmedabad Division, Western Railway organised an exhibition at Ahmedabad railway station to highlight the need for maintaining cleanliness in railway surroundings and also to inform the public about the ban on the use of single use plastics over Indian Railways to mark & commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

This two day exhibition is being held at the concourse hall of Ahmedabad railway station on 29th and 30th September, 2019. Live models of a bio- toilet and bottle crushing machine are on display at the exhibition with detailed briefings given by related departmental divisional officers & staff. Bio-degradable crockery to replace harmful and toxic plastic crockery is also on display. A Say NO to Plastic theme based garba jingle which has been well publicised on W. Rly’s social media platforms was also performed with garba dance by the Ahmedabad cultural team of railway employees during inauguration of the exhibition.

In Ratlam Division, a Plastic Bottle Crushing machine was installed and commissioned at PF no. 1 of Chittaurgarh station. The theme of “Swachh Competition” was observed with great enthusiasm and participation in the other divisions over Western Railway too with several such events & cleanliness drives.