NEW DELHI, SEP 16: Indian Railways on Friday launched “Swachhta Pakhwara” apart from intensive cleanliness campaigns across all its stations, tracks, and other establishments.

The 17-day cleanliness campaign will culminate on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2.

According to the official statement, “This year, special focus will be given on the cleanliness of tracks at stations, approach to major stations and elimination of plastic waste in Railway premises”.

During the Pakhwara, intensive cleaning and sanitization of stations, trains, tracks, colonies, and other railway establishments is being carried out with a special focus on plastic waste management.

Speaking while launching the campaign, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that

“It is under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, that Swachhta has become the mission and part of the life”.

He also added that apart from intensive cleanliness campaigns, during the Swachhta Pakhwara, the focus of the Ministry of Railways, Communications, and Electronics & Information Technology would be on Swachhta, service for TB patients, and Mega Blood Donation Drive.

In addition to the launch of Swachhta Pakhwara, the Minister also released an annual report on environmental sustainability, a comprehensive referral document highlighting steps taken by Indian Railways to promote a Green environment and clean energy.

“This report brings out Railways’ effort towards net zero emission such as energy conservation measures, alternate fuel, harnessing renewable energy, water conservation, afforestation, green certification of stations and establishments, bio-toilets, solid waste management, etc,” it said.

According to the Ministry, the Railways are an environmentally friendly means of bulk transportation and it has always been at the forefront of promoting a clean and green environment.

“It has taken several initiatives for providing a clean environment in and around Railway stations and trains such as Bio toilets on coaches leading to clean tracks, segregation of biodegradable/non-bio-degradable waste, solid waste management, etc,” it said. (UNI)