GUWAHATI, Sept 16 - The Maligaon-headquartered Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has launched an ambitious project to bring around two-third of the stations in the zone under the �mechanised cleaning system�.
Pranav Jyoti Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NFR, said that the project is scheduled to be fully implemented before Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.
�Under this project, use of brooms and other conventional equipments for cleaning the stations will be done away with. Instead, modern equipments will be used for maintaining cleanliness. This will not only ensure better service and improve the overall cleanliness of stations, but will also be more cost and time-effective. Besides, the Government is also focusing on the concept of Swachhta (cleanliness) in a big way these days,� he said.
Sharma added that at present mechanised cleaning system is in place in only a few big stations of NRF, including Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri.
�Altogether, 371 stations of NFR zone will be brought under the ambit of mechanised cleaning system once the latest project is completed before October 2,� he said.
It is noteworthy that there are around 550 stations across the zone. Of the total, 127 are 'Halt' stations or stations without platform.
NFR has placed orders for purchase of equipments and machineries like mechanised mopping machines, high pressure water jet cleaners, single disc scrubbers, flipper sweeping machines, wet and dry vacuum cleaners and auto scrubbers and dryers, which are to be used under the new model for cleaning the stations.
�Under the project, there is provision for providing training on the use of the latest equipments to the staff by the manufacturers. This will involve things like how to operate the machineries and how to repair or fix them in case of breakdown. The manufacturers will also monitor the use of the equipments for some time,� said Sharma.
At present, 27 stations in NFR are being cleaned through manual contract, while another 371 stations are being cleaned by the concerned station masters by engaging local agencies.
Among other stations, mechanised cleaning system is now going to be introduced at Dhubri, Narangi, Azara, Biswanath Chariali, Nalbari, Chaparmukh, Mendipathar, Boko, Jogighopa, Barpeta Road, Goalpara Town, North Lakhimpur, Rangapara North, Silapathar, Diphu, Hojai, Jagiroad, Lanka, Haibargaon, Nagaon, New Haflong, Hailakandi, Kumarghat, Mahur, New Karimganj, Silghat Town, Duliajan, Jorhat Town, Tinsukia, Nazira, Sivsagar Town and Murkongselek under the project.
The mechanised cleaning system is being implemented on directions of the Union Railway Ministry.
