Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda today broomed a foot overbridge, a platform and a car parking slot at New Delhi railway station in a symbolic start to 'Swacch Bharat'.
Gowda broomed the overbridge, platform no 16 and the parking slot and interacted with a few passengers present at the station taking their feedback on amenities being provided in train.
Every year, railways receives a large number of complaints about untidy stations and lack of cleanliness in trains. It also faces the problem of ensuring cleanliness of tracks.
Gowda also inspected the bio-toilet exhibition at platform No.1, waiting halls and other premises at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations.
Others who participated included Health Minister Harshvardhan, Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel and Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari.
At Old Delhi station, Railway Board Member (Traffic) D P Pande led the cleanliless campaign. He was accompanied by senior officials of Northern Railway.
At Anand Vihar station, East Delhi Lok Sabha MP Maheish Girri and Delhi MLA Om Prakash led the Swacch Bharat campaign.
Railways regularly ferries around 2.40 crore passengers which can be compared to approximately the whole population of the continent of Australia.
Railway Board staff took cleanliness pledge at the rail headquarters while employees of Northern Railway undertook the pledge at all divisional offices and at various stations.
A comprehensive "Cleanliness Action Plan" was prepared covering stations, tracks, workshops, railway colonies for keeping the sphere of work neat and clean.
As part of the campaign, efforts were made to ensure the involvement of passengers and to educate the masses about the necessity of keeping the railway premises clean. This was carried out through regular announcements on the public address system, airing of cleanliness messages and clippings on CCTVs, and distribution of pamphlets, posters, stickers and banners.
