Indian Railways spends Rs 1,200 crore annually on cleaning gutkha stains. With this amount, 10 new Vande Bharat trains can be built. This expenditure exposes the lack of cleanliness and civic responsibility among the passengers.
New Delhi: Indian Railways is considered the backbone of the country’s transport system. Every day more than 3 crore people travel by train. Many passengers eat pan masala and gutkha during the journey and spit in the compartments. Do you know how much Indian Railways spends annually to clean this spit? This amount is equivalent to building 10 Vande Bharat trains!
Expenditure of Rs 1,200 crore
Indian Railways spends Rs 1,200 crore every year to clean the mess caused by spitting after eating pan masala and gutkha! Such a huge amount is spent to remove gutkha stains from trains, platforms and station premises. This huge expenditure is not only a waste of precious resources, it also reflects deeper problems of civic understanding, public health and responsibility.
Construction of 10 Vande Bharat trains
The money that Indian Railways spends on cleaning gutkha spit can be used to build 10 new Vande Bharat trains. The cost of building one Vande Bharat train is Rs 110-120 crore. Accordingly, the amount spent on cleaning spit can make 16 Rajdhani trains and 10 Vande Bharat trains. It costs around Rs 75 crore to build a Rajdhani train.
unhealthy environment
Gutkha is a form of chewing tobacco mixed with betel nut and flavours. It is consumed extensively throughout India. Unfortunately, many people spit it in public places, especially railway property, after eating it. Over time, these blemishes become ugly and unhealthy, which is a concern for both beauty and health.
need for awareness
Despite the Swachh Bharat Mission and cleanliness drives conducted from time to time, this problem persists due to lack of change in the behavior of passengers. These stains not only spoil the beauty of railway stations and trains, but also pose a threat of spreading diseases, especially in monsoon when spit gets mixed with rain water. People should understand that this money spent annually on gutkha cleaning can be used for necessary improvements like railway infrastructure, passenger amenities or security upgrades. Until this happens, nothing can be done!