Kalindi Express: New Two-Hourly Toilet Cleaning Protocol Launched
Indian Railways mandates a two-hourly toilet cleaning protocol on trains like Kalindi Express to ensure high sanitation standards for passengers.
Indian Railways is revolutionizing onboard hygiene with a new two-hourly toilet cleaning mandate. To ensure a cleaner travel experience, toilets in trains, including the Kalindi Express, must now be cleaned every two hours during the journey.
A Shift to Continuous Cleaning
This significant upgrade is part of a continuous cleaning model introduced by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as part of his '52 reforms in 52 weeks' program, which launched in February 2026. Unlike previous methods where cleaning occurred primarily at major transit stops, this strategy ensures consistent sanitation and waste collection throughout the entire journey.
Tech-Driven Accountability and AI Monitoring
To maintain these high standards, the national carrier is transitioning to a Quality-cum-Cost Based Selection (QCBS) process to hire professional cleaning agencies. These contractors will manage the On-Board Housekeeping Service (OBHS), which has been streamlined to integrate linen distribution, collection, and coach maintenance under a single unified agency.
Modern technology is at the heart of this modernization effort. The railways are utilizing high-resolution cameras and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor cleaning status in real-time. The system is designed to:
- Generate immediate alerts for any deviations from service level agreements.
- Integrate passenger feedback from the RailMadad portal into a central oversight dashboard.
Special Campaigns and Passenger Feedback
The cleanliness drive is being further supported by 'Special Campaign 6.0', which runs from October 2 to October 31, 2026. As part of this initiative, Naresh Pal Singh, General Manager of North Central Railway, recently conducted 'Rail Jan Samvad' interactions at Subedarganj station to gather direct feedback from passengers regarding amenities and hygiene.
Beyond toilet maintenance, the railway's commitment to hygiene extends to water safety. Recent efforts have focused on the thorough disinfection of drinking water filtration systems and tanks across the network to ensure a safer and more comfortable travel experience for all.