In a historic achievement, Indian Railways executed an extraordinary feat as part of the Swachhata Pakhwada on October 1, 2023. Vande Bharat trains stationed at various locations across the country were cleaned simultaneously in a record-breaking time of just 14 minutes. This remarkable event marked the first of its kind in the history of Indian Railways.
General Managers of all Zones, Divisional Managers of all Divisions, Principal Head of Departments, and Senior Officers participated in this monumental effort in their respective Zones and Divisions.
The '14 Minute Miracle' Scheme
Central Railway also introduced the innovative "14-Minute Miracle" scheme to ensure top-quality cleaning of Vande Bharat Express train rakes at "other end terminal stations."
On Sunday ,the cleaning operation began at 12.42 noon right after the train's arrival at platform no. 8 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), ensuring all passengers had disembarked. Astonishingly, the entire cleaning process was completed by 12.56 noon clocking in at a record-breaking 14 minutes.
Allocation of tasks to three teams for thorough cleaning
According to CR, total of 44 cleaning staff were divided into three teams—Team A, B, and C—to carry out deep cleaning exercises. Team A, with 8 members, focused on lavatory cleanliness, including pan seats and glass, and collected any garbage present. Team B, comprised of 32 staff, was responsible for cleaning seats, snack tables, side panels, and mopping the coach floor. Team C, consisting of 4 staff, handled the cleaning of windows across all coaches. Each task was meticulously executed within the allocated time—2 minutes for garbage collection, 3 minutes for seat and table cleaning, 3 minutes for panel and coach cleaning, and 6 minutes for coach flooring.
Asked about the cleaning of a Vande Bharat in just 24 minutes an official said, "Achieving this remarkable feat was a daunting challenge, but Indian Railways adopted an innovative approach, techniques, and equipment to make it possible."
Commitment to Passenger Satisfaction
Prior to this, a successful trial run took place on September 28, 2023, with seamless collaboration among staff from various departments, including Carriage and Wagon (C&W), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Engineering, and Commercial, at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus.
"A Pioneering Achievement: This "14 Minute Miracle" scheme not only sets a new benchmark for efficiency but also showcases Indian Railways' commitment to cleanliness and passenger satisfaction. It stands as a testament to the railway's adaptability and determination to deliver exceptional service. The successful execution of this ambitious endeavour signals a bright future for rail travel in India" said an official of CR.
