Dirt and waste on the platforms almost always welcome passengers as they make their way into the portals of India’s Railway Stations.
The “scene” on the Railway tracks is better left unsaid. Solid waste, plastic and what not, litter all around. True, as you sow, so shall you reap. But, the mindless acts of a few cannot heap misery on the res
There have been many smart initiatives, on the part of the Railways, for some time to change the picture on the Railway stations. Many schemes have come a cropper, some have clicked.
Smart stations and echo friendly stations are on the anvil in India. Thirty-seven echo-smart stations have been identified in the first phase to keep the platforms spick and span. More will be added and strict environmental standards have to be adhered to while waiting for the ISO-14001 certificate.
Stations’ cleanliness, with frequent watering and sweeping, is a crucial parameter. Garbage consisting of food waste, combustible and non-combustible rubbish, and litter like papers and plastic bottles are seen all around the platform.
Water management on platforms should be immaculate for helping out passengers. Despite the Railways trying to create awareness about not using the toilets when the trains are stationary, passengers care two hoots and flout all regulations.
Many a time, it is the intruders who use the toilet; so the dual task is to keep a watch on the non-travellers who barge into the toilets. Then there is the prudent management of energy whose balanced use is critical to maintain the echo system. We need Green Stations; stations which can give the best of airports a run for their money.
