Starting from October 1, Indian Railways is adopting a revolutionary cleaning approach inspired by Japan’s bullet trains. Termed the ’14-minute clean-up,’ this initiative aims to drastically reduce the cleaning time of Vande Bharat trains.
Traditionally, it took three hours to clean a train, but with this new method, a team of four staff members will clean each coach within just 14 minutes. This model mirrors Japan’s system, where bullet trains are cleaned in a mere seven minutes.
Rigorous Training for StaffVande Bharat trains
This innovative strategy is designed to enhance punctuality and speed up the turnaround time of trains. The cleaning staff has undergone rigorous training and mock drills to efficiently execute this initiative.
Prior to the launch, Indian Railways organized the Swachhata-Hi-Seva campaign, engaging more than 200,000 people in 2,050 activities, contributing 685,883 man-hours to promote cleanliness.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that this unique concept, based on Japan’s ‘7 minutes of miracle,’ is a significant first for Indian Railways. The initiative kicks off at Delhi Cantonment Railway Station, with over 29 Vande Bharat trains nationwide implementing the system simultaneously.
Nationwide Implementation of Vande Bharat trains
Other stations like Varanasi, Gandhinagar, Mysore, and Nagpur will also adopt this method, tailored to the arrival timings of Vande Bharat trains. This transformative step marks a historic leap for Indian Railways, promising more efficient and cleaner train services for passengers.
