Indian Railways Strengthens Waste Management, Expands Onboard Housekeeping Services: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Jaipur, Indian Railways has significantly strengthened its waste management and cleanliness initiatives by establishing dedicated Environment and Housekeeping Management (ENHM) Departments at the divisional, zonal, and Railway Board levels to monitor and manage waste-related activities, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Rajya Sabha.

The Minister said Indian Railways has adopted a comprehensive system for the collection, processing, and scientific disposal of waste generated at railway stations and onboard trains. Dual-bin systems have been installed at stations to facilitate waste segregation at source, while waste generated in trains is collected at designated waste management stations. These stations have established arrangements with urban local bodies and municipal authorities for proper disposal.

To promote environmentally sustainable waste management, Indian Railways has installed 13 biogas plants, 171 composting plants, 8 Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and 858 plastic bottle crushing machines across railway stations. These facilities have a combined processing capacity of 5,095 kg per day for biogas plants, 24,817 kg per day for composting plants, and 7,725 kg per day for material recovery facilities.

Following the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and in compliance with directions of the Supreme Court of India, Indian Railways has introduced several measures to strengthen solid waste management across its establishments.

The Railway Board has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) covering railway stations, trains, railway colonies, hospitals, workshops, production units, and other railway establishments. The SOP provides detailed guidelines on waste segregation, collection, transportation, processing, scientific disposal, monitoring mechanisms, and clearly defined responsibilities at every administrative level.

Zonal Railways have also initiated the identification of their establishments that qualify as Bulk Waste Generators under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. In addition, Indian Railways plans to undertake an "As-Is Waste Characterisation and Quantification Study" to assess the volume and nature of waste generated across all railway establishments and trains.

Dedicated nodal officers have been appointed by the zonal railways to prepare comprehensive waste management action plans, conduct periodic audits, monitor implementation, and submit regular compliance reports to the Railway Board. Divisions have also been directed to formulate detailed action plans for effective waste management.

To ensure cleanliness throughout the journey, On Board Housekeeping Services (OBHS) are currently available on 1,450 pairs of long-distance trains, providing continuous cleaning and sanitation during travel.

Further, the Clean Train Station (CTS) Scheme has been implemented at 63 railway stations, covering 2,800 trains. Under the scheme, dedicated housekeeping teams equipped with cleaning tools clean toilets and washbasins during train halts and collect waste from onboard dustbins, ensuring cleaner coaches and improved passenger amenities.

Ashwini Vaishnaw shared these details while replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha.