New Delhi, March,15,2026: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced a new initiative to improve railway cleanliness in general coaches of long-distance trains. The announcement was made during a press conference on railway reforms held in New Delhi.
The minister said the Indian Railways will begin enhanced cleaning operations in general coaches, bringing them to the same cleanliness standards as first-class coaches.
Under the new initiative, around 80 long-distance trains will be identified within the next six months. Dedicated cleaning staff will be deployed on these trains to maintain hygiene and sanitation standards throughout the journey.
According to the minister, cleaning teams will carry out maintenance activities at regular intervals of one to one and a half hours. Continuous cleaning of toilets, garbage bins, and passenger cabins will be ensured during train operations.
The step is aimed at improving passenger comfort, particularly for travelers who use general class compartments on long-distance routes. The focus will be on maintaining better hygiene standards across key areas inside the coaches.
Speaking at the press conference, Ashwini Vaishnaw said general coaches will now receive cleaning attention similar to premium travel classes. Dedicated staff will be responsible for monitoring sanitation during the journey.
The minister also highlighted operational changes in linen management for trains. Earlier, different private firms handled linen distribution, collection, packing, and cleaning. Under the new arrangement, a single agency will manage the entire process to improve accountability and efficiency.
In addition to passenger service improvements, the railway minister spoke about progress in cargo infrastructure development. He said a total of 124 Gati Shakti cargo terminals are being established within three years across 18 states and union territories.
These cargo terminals are designed to improve multimodal connectivity and reduce logistics costs across the country. The development forms part of the government’s broader efforts to strengthen railway infrastructure and freight movement.
Vaishnaw also noted that Indian Railways has become the second largest cargo carrier in the world. The ongoing infrastructure and service upgrades are expected to further support both passenger convenience and freight efficiency.
The enhanced cleaning programme for general coaches will begin with selected long-distance trains and may be expanded further based on operational results.
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