The Indian Railways, with over 7,400 stations, is a lifeline for millions. Yet, several stations still suffer from poor hygiene and outdated infrastructure.

A recent report by the Quality Council of India (QCI) has spotlighted the dirtiest railway stations across the country.

Perungalathur Railway Station in Tamil Nadu ranks the lowest. Despite being part of Chennai’s railway division, it tops the list of the filthiest stations according to the Rail Swachh Portal.

Shahganj Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh is also among the worst. This NSG-3 category station in Jaunpur sees high traffic but lacks proper sanitation.

Moreover, Mathura and Kanpur Central, both major stations in Uttar Pradesh, are also listed.

Sadar Bazar Station in Delhi faces severe issues. Poor drainage and litter have made it one of the dirtiest in the national capital.

Ottapalam Railway Station in Kerala presents a disappointing case. Although it got a makeover in 2021, the station remains unhygienic. Located in Palakkad district, it suffers from mismanagement and waste accumulation.

The report also mentions stations in Bihar, including Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Araria Court, as consistently dirty.

In Uttar Pradesh, Jhansi and Bareilly stations continue to rank low. Similarly, Velachery and Guduvanchery stations in Tamil Nadu also made the list.

QCI based its rankings on direct observations and feedback from 1.2 million passengers. The council assessed cleanliness across multiple categories of stations.

Stations are classified based on revenue. A1 stations earn over ₹75 crore annually and include 75 major stations.

A category of stations, which numbers 332, generates between ₹6 crore and ₹50 crore.

Despite continuous efforts, sanitation at many railway stations remains a major issue.

While a few stations have improved, several still lack basic cleanliness and infrastructure.

The recent findings highlight the urgent need for upgrades, calling on authorities to take swift action to ensure safe and hygienic travel for all passengers.

Image Credit: Gowtham Sampath, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perungalathur_railway_station.jpg