Performance Audit on Cleanliness and Sanitation in Long Distance Trains in Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways

निष्कर्ष

1. जुलाई 2018 में रेल मदद शिकायत ऐप शुरू होने के बाद कोच की सफ़ाई से जुड़ी शिकायतें 229 प्रतिशत बढ़ीं — 2019-20 की 69,950 से 2022-23 में 2,42,431।

   “Mobile Application for Desired Assistance During travel (Rail Madad) was implemented in July 2018. Gradual increase in awareness among passengers led to surge in complaints since implementation of Rail Madad. The complaints related to coach cleanliness increased by 229 per cent during 2022-23 (2,42,431) as compared to the year 2019-20 (69,950).”Executive Summary

2. 24 स्वचालित कोच धुलाई संयंत्रों के संयुक्त निरीक्षण में आठ — यानी 33 प्रतिशत — ख़राबी या मरम्मत के कारण बंद थे; इसके बदले 1,32,060 कोच ₹2.58 करोड़ की लागत से ठेके पर धोए गए।

   “Due to infrastructural constraints, washing of 1,32,060 coaches was done externally through the Mechanised Coach Cleaning Contract after incurring expenditure of ₹2.58 crore. During joint inspection of 24 ACWPs with the Railway Officials, it was observed that eight (33 per cent) ACWPs were not in operation due to breakdown or repair works.”Executive Summary

3. स्वच्छ रेल स्टेशन योजना अपने अपेक्षित लाभ नहीं दे सकी, क्योंकि प्रशासन ने न संविदा शर्तें लागू कीं और न 10 से 15 मिनट के ठहराव में सफ़ाई के लिए आवश्यक संसाधन तैनात किए।

   “The Clean Train Stations (CTS) scheme was introduced for mechanised cleaning of sensitive areas of the coaches such as bio-toilets, doorway areas and vestibules during the halt of trains at en-route stations. The intended benefits, however, could not be fully derived due to failure of the Railway Administration in enforcing contract conditions by deploying required resources to ensure cleanliness and sanitation within the stipulated 10-15 minutes halt time at Clean Train Stations.”Executive Summary

4. 12 मंडलों के 29 स्वच्छ रेल स्टेशनों के संयुक्त निरीक्षण में शौचालयों और अन्य क्षेत्रों की सफ़ाई सीमित मिली, मशीनों का उपयोग आवश्यकता से कम और जनशक्ति कम रही, जिसमें अधिकारियों के निरीक्षण की कमी का योगदान था।

   “During joint inspections in 29 CTS across 12 zones, audit observed limited cleaning of toilets and other areas, shortfall in usage of machines and deployment of manpower. The shortfall in inspections by the nominated railway officials was one of the factors contributing to the deficiencies such as deployment of less manpower and machinery.”Executive Summary

5. 32 कोचिंग डिपो के 73 संविदाओं की परीक्षा में गाड़ी-भीतर सफ़ाई ठेकेदारों से ₹9.62 करोड़ जुर्माना वसूला गया — जनशक्ति व मशीनों की कमी और निर्धारित सफ़ाई सामग्री का उपयोग न करने के कारण।

   “A test check of 73 contracts related to OBHS services of the selected 32 Coaching Depots in 16 zones revealed that penalty of ₹9.62 crore was recovered from the contractors on account of deficiencies such as shortfall of manpower and machinery, non utilisation of specified cleaning agents, etc.”Executive Summary

6. मार्च 2023 तक चिह्नित 109 स्टेशनों में से 81 पर त्वरित जल-भरण व्यवस्था चालू थी, और शेष 28 पर दो से चार वर्ष की देरी थी।

   “Audit observed that out of the 109 stations identified for making provision for QWA, facilities for quick watering were in operation at 81 stations (74 per cent) as on 31 March 2023. At 28 stations across nine zones, there was delay in setting up of QWA ranging from two to four years as of March 2023 for reasons such as fund constraints, slow progress of work by contractor, shelving/shifting of work, etc.”Executive Summary

7. 2022-23 में कोच के शौचालयों और वॉश-बेसिन में पानी न होने की 1,00,280 शिकायतें दर्ज हुईं, और उनमें से 33,937 — यानी 33.84 प्रतिशत — में समाधान अपेक्षित समय से अधिक लगा।

   “A total of 1,00,280 complaints regarding non-availability of water in toilets and wash-basins in the coaches were reported over IR during 2022-23. In 33,937 cases (33.84 per cent) the time taken for addressing the issue exceeded the expected timeline.”Executive Summary

8. निगरानी ठेकेदारों को उपस्थिति प्रणाली में हेरफेर करने से रोक नहीं सकी, और लेखापरीक्षा ने पुलिस सत्यापन में विसंगतियाँ तथा निर्धारित निरीक्षणों में कमी भी पाई।

   “The existing monitoring and internal control mechanism could not prevent manipulations in the attendance system by the contractual agencies, discrepancies in conducting police verification, shortfall in conducting the scheduled inspections and constraints of water availability.”Executive Summary

9. 96 गाड़ियों के 2,426 यात्रियों के सर्वेक्षण में जैव-शौचालयों से असंतोष पाँच मंडलों में 50 प्रतिशत या अधिक और दो मंडलों में 10 प्रतिशत से कम रहा; शौचालय सफ़ाई की 89 प्रतिशत शिकायतें निर्धारित समय में निपटीं।

   “A detailed survey was conducted in respect of 2,426 on-board passengers in 96 selected trains. It was observed that the position of bio-toilets is better in AC coaches compared to that in non-AC coaches. The percentage of dissatisfaction amongst the surveyed passengers was higher (50 per cent and above) in five zones and lower (below 10 per cent) in two zones. Significant number of complaints (89 per cent) related to cleaning of toilets in trains were addressed within the stipulated time.”Executive Summary

10. लेखापरीक्षा अच्छी पद्धति भी दर्ज करती है — पश्चिम रेलवे के कांकरिया डिपो का धुलाईघर किफ़ायती और पर्यावरण-अनुकूल ढंग से चला, जिसमें उच्च क्षमता वाला थर्मिक फ़्लुइड हीटर, बंद-चक्र गर्म तेल परिसंचरण और अपशिष्ट उपचार से जल पुनर्चक्रण शामिल था।

    “During the joint inspection, Audit observed that BOOT Laundry at Kankaria Depot of WR had been operating in an economical, effective and environment friendly manner. The laundry adopted certain best practices such as high efficiency thermic fluid heater, closed loop circulation of hot oil for efficient drying of linen at the ironers and recycling of water after washing of linen in Effluent Treatment Plants.”Executive Summary

इस रिपोर्ट को उद्धृत करने वाले फ़ैक्ट-चेक

• ◑संदर्भ अधूरारेलवे: हमने रेल यात्रा के अनुभव को सुरक्षित, सुगम, स्वच्छ और संतोषजनक बनाने के सभी प्रयास किए हैं और बड़े परिणाम पाए हैं। हम इस दिशा में काम की गति बनाए रखेंगे।