Kochi: Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram topped 'NSG 2 category' railway stations, that having Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore earning, among those in the Southern Railway as per the latest cleanliness survey report released by the Railway ministry.
While Thrissur was placed fifth in the region, Ernakulam Junction station found itself slipping to 10th place in the station ranking survey carried out by the Quality Council of India.
Nationwide, Jaipur is ranked first in the Station Cleanliness Survey 2019 with an overall cleanliness score of 931.75. Kozhikode was ranked 125 with a total score of 809.90, Thiruvananthapuram 174 (787.23), Thrissur 352 (708.77) and Ernakulam 510 (610.89).
The North Western Railway Zone bagged the cleanest railway zone 2019 award.The report comes at a time when the railways initiated a series of measures to improve hygiene at stations.
Meanwhile, the Thiruvananthapuram divisional authorities reached an agreement with the state government on October 1 under which 88 railway stations will be adopted under the National Service Scheme (NSS). Under the initiative, the NSS units will continuously organise programmes for cleaning of stations and eradicating plastic waste from railway land.
The units will convert vacant lands at stations to gardens of medicinal, ornamental and essential plants as per geographical conditions.
Meanwhile, the railways has enforced a strict ban on usage of plastic-coated paper cups and aluminum foils to serve tea or food items. "We've started a special drive in the Division as part of this. We're conducting live awareness among passengers exhorting them to avoid bringing food items or other materials in plastic covers. Leaflets are being provided to them," said a senior Health official.
The railways is also setting up more plastic crushing machines which are already available at Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad railway stations. "Another 12 machines will be installed at main stations of the divisions shortly," said a senior official.
