A review meeting chaired by Ms Aruna Nayar, Secretary, Railway Board, was held to assess the progress and achievements of the Special Campaign 5.0, conducted from 2 to 31 October 2025. The campaign aimed to enhance cleanliness in offices and public spaces and to dispose of long-pending matters across the Indian Railways network.

Against a target of 75,000 cleanliness campaigns, the Railways exceeded expectations by conducting 78,451 drives across stations, offices, colonies, and workshops. The Ministry also surpassed its targets for the disposal of over 1,000 MP references and cleared more than 2.48 lakh (248,000) grievances against a goal of 2.75 lakh (275,000). Officials stated that nearly 100 per cent of the objectives under the Special Campaign for Disposal of Pending Matters (SCDPM) 5.0 have been achieved, with the remaining goals expected to be met by the campaign’s conclusion.

During the review, Ms Nayar inspected Rail Bhawan to assess ongoing cleanliness efforts and commended officers for their commitment. She urged teams to meet all pending targets before the 31 October deadline.

The Indian Railways placed special emphasis on hygiene, environmental sustainability, and public engagement, aiming to maintain high standards of cleanliness while promoting eco-friendly practices. The initiative discourages the use of single-use plastics and supports plantation and awareness drives, reinforcing the Railways’ dedication to a cleaner and greener environment.

Under the Swachhata campaign, over 1,500 trains were inspected through cleanliness audits and surprise checks by senior officials at originating depots and en-route stations. Additionally, 2,500 anti-littering drives were held, counselling 76,444 individuals on cleanliness practices.

To strengthen public participation, nearly 1.25 lakh (125,000) individuals took part in Shram-daan activities, while 1.20 lakh (120,000) saplings were planted across the network. The Swachh Neer initiative saw 11,300 water booths cleaned at 3,150 locations, and the Swachh Aahar drive resulted in the cleaning of 4,000 food stalls across 1,800 stations.

The campaign also included the removal of 520 tonnes of plastic waste, cleaning of 12.1 million square metres of area and 20.6 million metres of drains, as well as 27,000 km of railway tracks. Over 1,646 Swachhata webinars and seminars, attended by 37,700 participants, were organised, alongside 451 street plays (Nukkad Nataks) promoting public awareness.

Further supporting waste management, 8,400 dustbins were installed across railway premises, and “Waste to Art” selfie points were created at 363 stations, turning discarded materials into creative installations symbolising sustainability and civic pride.

The Ministry noted that Special Campaign 5.0 demonstrates Indian Railways’ commitment to combining cleanliness, efficiency, and environmental responsibility, with continued public involvement playing a pivotal role in maintaining long-term success.