Bugs/Insects and Pests in Trains - Addl Inputs

Dear Railways Circle Members:

Below are the Key Issues, Root Causes and Solutions as proposed by you on Addressing Bugs/Insects and Pests problems in Trains.

Please review them and if you have anything additional to add, please post your view as a comment to this post classifying your input with a prefix. (Issue, Root Cause, Solution).

We will soon compile the whitepaper on this subject to be presented to the Senior Railway Leadership so progress can be made on this subject.

Thanks for your participation
Ministry of Railways

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Bugs/Insects and Pests – Key Solutions

1. Pest control should be done in all trains atleast twice a month
2. Enlist the help of professional and well-reputed pest control companies
3. Fumigation should be done after regular intervals
4. Dustbins should be installed on each door in every coach
5. Dustbins should be cleared on every alternate station
6. Cleaning and dry-cleaning work of the beddings and pillows should be outsources to private contractors
7. Pantry car should be kept absolutely clean
8. Food should not be kept on the floor
9. Like in a plane, safety and cleanliness demonstration should be done in trains too with monitors, posters, announcements, etc.
10. Graphics should be put up on stations to educate passengers about keeping the stations and the trains clean
11. The water leakage in AC coaches should be controlled
12. Toilets should be cleaned on every major station
13. The cleaning staff should be strictly supervised
14. High standards should be set for the cleaning staff with guidance and proper demonstration
15. The design of many coaches is more than 100 years old; should be re-designed for hygiene
16. Toilets should stay closed while the train is on the station

Bugs/Insects and Pests in Trains - Root Causes

1. Floors and bogies are not cleaned properly
2. No supervision of the cleaning staff
3. Cleanliness standards set for the railway employees to follow are very low
4. Lack of accountability of cleaning staff
5. The sense of cleanliness among the general public is missing
6. Quality of pest control products used is not up to the mark
7. Passengers keep throwing/dropping eatables inside the trains which attracts insects
8. Not enough dustbins on the stations and inside the train
9. Beddings are old and are not washed properly
10. Food is kept on the floor inside and outside the pantry car
11. A large number of people use the toilets and hence keeping them clean becomes a task
12. Bins are not cleared regularly which attracts more insects

Bugs/Insects and Pests in Trains - Key Issues

1. Cockroaches and rats can be found everywhere in the train
2. Both general and AC coaches smell of rodents
3. Pest control companies who are given the contracts do not do a good job
4. Bed bugs in pillows and blankets provided
5. The pantry car is dirty and has insects running all around
6. Insects being found in the food in the train is a common sight
7. The quality of wood and fabric used attracts bugs
8. Lot of mosquitoes in AC compartments
9. Toilets are full of insects more