PUNE: In a recent survey conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI), Central Railway was ranked eight among the 16 railway zones across the country. Now, the Mumbai headquarters has started a competition among stations within the division.
According to railway officials, Central Railway (CR) will observe ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa Pakhwada’ (cleanliness fortnight) from September 15 to October 2 involving station managers and station directors, along with railway colony staff, NGOs, charitable institutions, passengers and the public at large for their voluntary service towards the cleanliness drive.
DK Sharma, General Manager of CR, while exhorting the divisional railway managers (DRMs), announced that awards/shields will be given at the zonal and divisional levels. “This would create a healthy environment of competition among different units and different teams of staff. We will celebrate the winners on October 2, with the highest cleanliness standard among all our stations, trains, colonies, hospitals and health units,” he said in a statement released by the CR.
The awards at the zonal level will be given for the best maintained workshop, best maintained diesel/electric shed, best maintained coaching depot, best maintained divisional hospital, best maintained office and best maintained mail/express rake.
Similarly, awards at the divisional level will be given to best maintained office at divisional headquarters, the first, second and third awards for best maintained level crossing gates, separate awards for best maintained station in A-1, A, B and C categories, separate awards for colonies on the basis of size of the colony, and best maintained health unit.
The awards will be decided by an inter-departmental committee constituted by the additional general manager (AGM)) at the headquarters level and by the divisional railway manager at the divisional level. The awards carry cash prizes as well as shields. Moreover, a large-scale tree plantation and street plays will also be organised at various stations to spread public awareness.
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal released the survey report on August 13. A total of 75 stations in A1 category and 332 under A category were surveyed. However, Central Railway was ranked 8th among the 16 zones. It had secured the third rank last year. The Pune junction of the Pune railway division stands 25th in all-India A1 category of ‘Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat’ survey.
