Title - Upkeep of three rail stations under Tiruchi

The medical department of Tiruchi Railway Division has taken over three more stations falling within the division for maintenance of cleanliness on the station premises and its adjoining areas.A comprehensive cleaning mechanism would be put into place in each of the three stations – Puducherry, Nagapattinam, and Ariyalur - consequent to the takeover by the medical department.The complete cleaning work would be outsourced after calling for tenders and finalising private agencies for the three stations which come under the “B” category.Though cleaning and maintenance at the three stations on a day-to-day basis would be done by private agencies using machines and other kits, the medical department would supervise the entire work.

Manual work

For the time being, manual cleaning is being done at the three stations by engaging private parties.Under the comprehensive cleaning package, cleaning would be done on the platforms, tracks, concourse area, approach road leading to the station, and service buildings that include waiting room, retiring room,and station master’s room, railway officials here told The Hindu .

At present, cleanliness of seven stations falling within the division — Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Vriddhachalam, Villupuram, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai and Tiruvarur — are being maintained by the medical department through outsourcing.

Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai fall under the “A” category station; Vriddhachalam and Villupuram have been categorised as “B” while Tiruvarur is an ‘Adarsh’ station.

“We will be introducing mechanised cleaning on a daily basis in Nagapattinam, Ariyalur and Puducherry to keep the station premises clean,” said a senior railway officer here.

According priority to cleanliness as well, the Railways would spend Rs. 70 lakh for maintenance of cleanliness for a two–year period for Puducherry, Rs. 66 lakh for Ariyalur, and Rs. 67 lakh for Nagapattinam for the same period.

Cleanliness work at Tiruchi junction, a major station in the division, was taken over by the medical department in 2004.

Subsequently, it took over cleanliness work in other “A” and “B” category stations in the division, which bagged the overall medical efficiency shield during 2012-13 fiscal.