“If we stand by environment, environment will stand by us to bring about an eco-friendly habitation. Clean environment certainly enhances our spirit for enthusiastic work and helps in overall happiness and good health for the people of this planet.”
– HK Sharma, MD-Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Ltd
Well designed and lit stations impart a good ambience to any metro line. KMRC has taken a few measures to ensure there is no littering:
• Computerized automatic fare collection system with smart tokens and smart cards eliminating paper tickets.
• No catering services or eatables are permitted inside the paid areas of the stations and trains.
System for Cleaning
The major cleaning is done during non-operational time, at around 4-5am in the morning before trains leave the depot. All the janitors with necessary solutions, equipment and tools clean each and everything. Our services stretch up to 22 hours and two hours are exclusively kept for cleaning and maintenance.
About 250 in-house workers are engaged in keeping all the 24 stations clean by manual & mechanized cleaning processes. Quality cleaning materials are being supplied depending on the requirements.
During daytime, inspections are done and further guidelines are given to supervisors to improve cleanliness & hygiene. Dustbins are kept at the entrances and the entire train is under CCTV surveillance. If someone spits, a fine of Rs200 is imposed on him/her.
A Real Time Monitoring of building conditions is being done within the zone of influence (25 metres to 40 metres from the central line of tunnel on either side) using sophisticated instrumentation. This helps in taking appropriate precautionary measures for preventing/minimizing the extent of damage during construction of tunnels and stations.
In stretches where the elevated line passes through residential areas such as Salt Lake, noise barriers will be constructed to cut noise levels, if required. The trains for the line 2 would be controlled through Operations Control Centre (OCC) at the depot using sophisticated computerized system. Even video surveillance of the goings on in the moving trains would be beamed real time to the control centre. Platform screen doors/gates would be fitted at the edges of platforms in every station which will be aligned precisely with the train coach doors with which they would open and close in tandem. This feature would isolate the train track from the passengers at all times, making metro travel a very safe experience for all. While all elevated stations in the corridor are designed to cover life safety and fire protection requirements conforming to National Building Code and West Bengal Fire &n Safety Act, the underground stations are compliant with NFPA standards for safety which stipulate that anyone at the remotest corner of the station should be able to reach a safe zone within six minutes in case of any exigency.”
Mechanized Cleaning
Though low cost manpower is easily available in Kolkata, we introduced mechanized cleaning in 2013 at two metro stations – Esplanade and Central. Four Automatic scrubber & driers and four manual sweeping machines have been deployed at these two stations.
Foe another five stations – Noapara, Parkstreet, Mahanayak Uttamkumar, Kavi Nazrul & Kavi Subhas – procurement of automatic scrubber & drier cleaning machines and manually sweeping machines is under process.
Cultural quotient & Awareness
The local culture and celebrations are taken into account while designing the cleaning systems. For instance, during Diwali and Durgapuja, the cabins are prone to get littered more.
Awareness programs have been initiated particularly for new commuters. Televisions are installed all over displaying messages asking commuters to throw plastic/papers or other waste into the dustbins only. Directions and guidance are displayed on CCTVs, video walls and stickers at all stations. Officers and supervisors do regular special cleanliness drives at all metro stations and on trains. Passengers who dirty the stations are fined and counselled.
“Kolkata metro is the oldest one in the country and I’ll say the best one not only because of the administrative efforts but also because of the people of Kolkata. They are proud of the City and want to maintain its legacy. This I don’t find in any other part of the country. This makes the difference.”
KV Rao
Chief Traffic Manager, Kolkata Metro Railway
