Southern Rly’s Chennai Division Concludes ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ Campaign
The division transformed 2,665 kg of scrap into creative art installations and held 42 medical camps providing check-ups and protective safety gear to 572 Safai Mitras.
Chenai:The Chennai division of Southern Railway marked the grand culmination of its 15-day ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ (SHS) 2026 campaign on Friday at Dr MGR Chennai Central Railway Station, commemorating the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The fortnight-long drive placed central focus on Jan Bhagidari (public participation), youth engagement, comprehensive cleanliness, and the welfare of Safai Mitras. Southern Railway General Manager U. Subba Rao attended as Chief Guest, accompanied by Additional General Manager Vipin Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager Shailendra Singh, Additional Divisional Railway Managers Ankur Chauhan and Dr. I Senthil Kumar, and other senior officials. The event also drew participation from students, NCC cadets, Scouts and Guides, NGOs, and railway passengers. Following floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, DRM Shailendra Singh outlined the campaign’s notable achievements. Over the 15-day period, 8,274 participants cleared and sanitised 1,851 Cleanliness Target Units (CTUs), while deep-cleaning operations across 585 sites eliminated 65 metric tonnes of legacy waste.
The division transformed 2,665 kg of scrap into creative art installations and held 42 medical camps providing check-ups and protective safety gear to 572 Safai Mitras. In the massive "Shramdaan Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath" drive held on October 1, 2,675 participants cleared 1,200 kg of garbage across railway premises.
Addressing the gathering, Subba Rao emphasised that Swachhata Hi Seva is a sustained collective movement rather than a brief drive. He urged citizens to adopt civic responsibility, avoid littering, and practice mindful water conservation. The General Manager inaugurated a photo exhibition tracing Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and showcasing award-winning student artworks.
Celebrations featured patriotic songs, dances by staff and railway school students, an awareness skit, and a striking portrait of Mahatma Gandhi revealed through coloured powder by artist Shaktivel. Outstanding volunteers, students, depot staff, and Safai Mitras received certificates of honour. To curb single-use plastics, senior railway officials distributed reusable jute bags to passengers.
