ANNOUNCEMENTS
Indian Railways, which links the entire nation, is the largest public sector company in India. There are rail lines all around the nation, and one of the main concerns is the massive volume of solid waste that travellers produce every day while traveling. Unfortunately, there is no adequate waste disposal system in place for such a large public transportation system. The surrounding environment throughout the train network has suffered greatly as a result of the waste's ineffective treatment. The report analyses Solid Waste Management practices in Indian Railways, focusing on the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS). The station generates around 670 tonnes of solid waste per day, accumulating to 245,000 tonnes per year. The study identifies various components of Municipal Solid Waste, including paper, organic, plastic, glass, metal, and hazardous materials. Unmanaged waste poses significant threats, such as polluting oceans, clogging sewers, spreading illnesses, and hindering economic development. The research at NDLS uses a mixed-method approach, revealing that 84% of passengers reported the absence of segregated bins inside trains and that dustbins are often full, overflowing, or smelly. NDLS has adopted basic waste management techniques, such as recycling, composting, and waste reduction, in collaboration with organizations like Safai Sena and Chintan. However, the report highlights significant implementation gaps, such as waste segregation on trains and improved passenger awareness.
Keywords: Solid Waste Management, Indian Railways, pollution, waste supply chain, New Delhi Railway Station, passengers, Sanitary workers, Material Recovery Facility, composting.
