Title - Railways undertake maintenance work

As the monsoon is nearing, the Pune railway department has undertaken pre-monsoon cleaning work. Railway platforms, railway tracks and drains are being cleaned to avoid water clogging. Railway administration has claimed that 80 percent of the pre- monsoon work is complete and they have appealed the passengers to throw garbage and plastic bags in dustbins in order to keep the station area clean.

Pune railway station operates nearly 150 trains on daily basis and nearly 3 lakh passengers use the station area. Pune railway department has faced criticism in the past for filthy station areas. Recently general manager of the Central Railways has directed the divisional railway manager of Pune railway division to take up cleanliness work at the station.

The Pune division has prepared an action plan to clean the railway tracks, the six platforms and underlying drains at the station. The administration is also working on maintenance of the signaling system to keep it updated during the monsoon.

YK Singh, Public Relations Officer of the Central Railways, Pune Division said,” We have started cleaning all the tracks and drains and removed all the plastic bags and garbage thrown by the passengers,”

“The garbage blocks the drains and the water seeps into the electrical wires causing short circuits. We have cleaned the drains to prevent such mishaps”, he added.

The Central Railways imposes a fine of Rs 500 on passengers who litter and checking staff will be present at every station to collect fine The railway cleaning staff is working with private contractors to clean the drains. Sources within the Central Railways expect to complete this project within a week.