Spit and Litter No More: Central Railway Deploys Cleanup Marshals In Mumbai

Mumbai, 11th September 2023: Following a previous unsuccessful attempt by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, the Central Railway has taken the initiative to appoint cleanup marshals to address the persistent issue of passengers spitting and polluting railway stations and trains. The first phase of this effort will involve deploying cleanup marshals at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, and tenders have already been issued for this purpose.

In the Mumbai division, the railway authorities have frequently taken action against passengers who engage in littering and spitting at railway stations and within moving trains. Despite repeated warnings and the prominent “don’t spit” campaigns, the problem has persisted, partly due to the railway’s limited manpower to enforce these rules. In response, the Central Railway has opted to launch a pilot program by appointing cleanup marshals, and a tender has been issued to initiate this process.

A senior Central Railway official said that the cleanup marshals will be tasked with enforcing the Indian Railways’ regulations and imposing official penalties in accordance with the Special Indian Railways Act. These marshals will not only take punitive measures but will also play a vital role in raising awareness about cleanliness among railway passengers. Comprehensive training will be provided to equip them for this multifaceted role.

The contract for cleanup marshalling will be awarded to a private company, with the pilot program initially implemented. If this endeavor proves successful, there are plans to gradually extend the deployment of cleanup marshals to all major railway stations in Mumbai.

In recent years, the Mumbai Municipal Administration had previously appointed cleanup marshals to combat spitting and pollution on the city’s streets. However, numerous complaints were received from citizens regarding the behavior of cleanup marshals, including allegations of overzealous enforcement and clashes with the public. Consequently, the municipal corporation decided to discontinue the cleanup marshal program.