South East Railway Invests Fifty Crore Rupees to Upgrade Train Cleanliness and Bedroll Services

Indian Railways is significantly stepping up its efforts to improve onboard hygiene and bedroll provisioning as part of a nationwide initiative to elevate passenger amenities for all travellers. The South East Railway zone has earmarked an investment of over ₹50 crore to completely overhaul current onboard housekeeping and bedroll supply services following persistent passenger feedback regarding sanitation standards in long-distance coaches. Under a new policy approved by the Railway Board, comprehensive responsibility for coach cleaning and the supply of linen will be assigned to accredited agencies, beginning with five selected trains in each railway zone during the initial phase. To maintain strict service quality, the railways have mandated that coach attendants and supervisors must possess at least a 12th-grade education and an ITI certification, along with mandatory training in first aid and basic maintenance. Agencies failing to meet cleanliness standards or engaging in passenger misconduct will face substantial financial penalties and potential blacklisting.

Technological Reforms and On-Demand Services

Technological and operational reforms are being deployed rapidly to address systemic gaps across the network. Notably, the Southern Railway’s Chennai division launched an 'on-demand' paid bedroll service for sleeper class passengers in January 2026, following a successful pilot project under the New Innovative Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme 2023-24. Furthermore, specific protocols now dictate that AC coach blankets must be laundered every 15 days, with strict oversight on the sanitization of all sheets and pillow covers.

Challenges and Passenger Grievance Redressal

Despite these extensive efforts, notable operational challenges remain for the national transporter. An RTI disclosure revealed that complaints regarding coach maintenance and bedroll quality in the Prayagraj division surged 47-fold between 2019-20 and 2025-26. Additionally, the railways recorded the disappearance of over 1.27 crore pieces of linen items—including towels, sheets, and blankets—from AC coaches between January 2022 and May 2026, resulting in significant financial losses. To combat these issues and improve transparency, Indian Railways is increasingly utilizing digital platforms and social media to solicit real-time passenger feedback and facilitate faster grievance redressal.