CHENNAI/MADURAI: Nine major railway stations in Tamil Nadu have made the State proud by putting it in the map of top clean stations in the country.
Madurai ranked ninth among 75 A1 stations, while Kumbakonam, Salem, Kovilpatti, Erode, Tiruchy, Virudhunagar, Thanjavur and Mettupalayam were in the list of top 20 clean A category stations.
Interestingly, Chennai Central, Egmore, and Coimbatore, which are perceived as well-maintained A1 stations and none of the A category stations in the Chennai Division figured in the preliminary report on assessment of cleanliness conducted by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and a third party auditor. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu released the report on Thursday.
The survey, based on feedback from passengers, non-railway survey providers at stations and railway officials, was conducted in 75 A1 railway stations and 332 A category stations between January 16 and February 5. The assessment involved various parameters, including cleanliness of platforms, tracks, steps, foot overbridge, platform chairs, rest halls, and main entrances. In addition, collection of solid waste disposal and provision of toilet facilities were also taken into consideration.
Madurai Divisional Railway Manager Sunil Kumar Garg told Express that station managers had been given made responsible of station’s cleanliness. He also said that stations were clean because usage of pan masala and gutka was less among the passengers the south.
“Passengers in southern districts do not spit on station property. This was one of the important reasons for cleanliness of nine stations in Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Salem divisions. Passengers also have to be appreciated for keeping the station clean” Garg added.
Madurai topped swachh rankings among nine railway stations in A1 category surveyed across Southern Railway. Among 42 stations in A category, Kovilpatti, Salem Kumbakonam, Erode, Tiruchirapalli, Virudhunagar, Thanjavur and Mettupalayam topped in rankings.
Meanwhile, railway officials in the Chennai Division said that they were unaware of the parameters. According to officials in Chennai, every effort is made to ensure the cleanliness, and they were surprised about the results.
Except three railway stations - Tirusur and Tirur from the Palakkad division and Ernakulam Town from the Thiruvanathapuram
Division - all other railway stations surveyed in the Southern Railway have been rated between level 1 and level 3, indicating from excellent to average. Level 4 and level 5 meant below average and poor.