SCR GM launches Swachhta Pakhwada

Tirupati: SCR General Manager Vinod Kumar Yadav took part in ‘Swachhta Pakhwada’ (Cleanliness Fortnight) at Tirupati Railway Station on Sunday and watched various activities and other awareness programmes.

The programme mooted by Indian Railways was aimed at improving the cleanliness further at railway stations and rail coaches and was planned on the occasion of 150thbirth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi which starts on October 2. As part of this, the General Manager will visit the stations in SCR zone which were associated with Mahatma Gandhi. like Tirupati, Nellore, Raichur, Vijayawada, Hyderabad etc., The GM VK Yadav has said that, SCR was giving top priority for cleanliness which was evident from the rankings of Swachh Rail, Swacch Bharat 2018.

“Tirupati is an iconic station identified for Swacch Bharat programme which has secured third place in the country during this year’s rankings. We take this special drive for 15 days to create awareness among public and rail passengers and will also involve school children”, he explained. All the staff of SCR were asked to involve in the campaign. Different themes were identified to organise separate programmes each day.

Already mechanised cleaning was provided at stations. The use of bio toilets in trains help keep the tracks clean and these toilets will be provided at all stations, he asserted. Guntakal DRM Vijay Prathap Singh has said that during Swachhta Pakhwada, more efforts will be put on cleaning the stations, trains, toilets, offices, colonies and maintaining the quality of food and water.

By the end of September 2018, all stations in Guntakal division will have ‘Divyang friendly toilets’. He said that Tirupati station will have more plants and greenery and all stall owners were encouraged to maintain plants. On this occasion, a puppet show (Tholu Bommalata) highlighting the importance of Swacchata in rail premises was displayed. Dances and shows highlighting cleanliness were performed by the students of Bhashyam School in Tirupati.

These skits and shows highlighted the dos and don’ts to be followed at railway stations and trains to keep them clean and neat. Guntakal division undertook painting of walls of waiting hall which was inaugurated by the General Manager. Sr DCM Rakesh, Station Director K Satyanarayana, Station Manager M Subodh Mithra and other officials were present on the occasion.