05 June,2026 08:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
As part of the run-up to World Environment Day, Central Railway carried out an intensive awareness campaign from May 15 to June 5. Representational Pic
The Central Railway observed World Environment Day 2026 on Friday with a wide-ranging environmental initiative, culminating a 22-day awareness campaign conducted across its Mumbai, Bhusaval, Nagpur, Pune and Solapur divisions.
Additional General Manager Prateek Goswami administered an environmental pledge to principal heads of departments, officers and staff, encouraging eco-friendly practices and collective responsibility towards sustainability.
Earlier, he and senior officials participated in a nationwide pledge ceremony addressed by Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar via video conference.
As part of the run-up to World Environment Day, Central Railway carried out an intensive awareness campaign from May 15 to June 5, mobilising railway staff, passengers and local communities to promote environmental protection, waste segregation and reduction of single-use plastics.
The campaign included plantation drives, environmental walkathons and large-scale participation from railway personnel, including a major rally at Matunga Workshop with nearly 500 participants focusing on energy conservation and water security.
To improve waste management at stations, Central Railway installed twin colour-coded dustbins for dry and wet waste across major locations. Plastic bottle crushing machines were also introduced to encourage proper disposal and recycling.
Awareness drives at stations promoted messages such as "Clean Platforms, Green Future", "Carry Your Own Water Bottle" and "Say No to Plastic" through banners, workshops and outreach activities.
In collaboration with IRCTC, Central Railway introduced biodegradable cutlery at select catering points, including an eco-friendly bamboo stall at Nagpur Station.
A vermi-composting facility was highlighted for converting organic waste and leaf litter into manure at locations such as Matunga Workshop and Reay Road Station.
Cleanliness drives, scrap segregation and pre-monsoon drain cleaning were also carried out across multiple workshops, including Parel, Sanpada, Badnera and Manmad.
Mumbai Division intensified monitoring of vendor stalls to enforce restrictions on single-use plastics, promoting biodegradable alternatives instead. Cultural programmes and street plays organised by Central Railway's Bharat Scouts and Guides were held across Bhusawal, Nagpur, Pandharpur, Shegaon and Kalaburagi stations to spread awareness on climate change.
Workshops at Matunga also trained staff and vendors on reducing microplastic pollution through improved waste handling practices.
Tree plantation activities were conducted at multiple railway locations, with Reay Road Station emerging as a key contributor through plantation and composting initiatives on its premises.
Central Railway urged passengers to support its sustainability efforts by using reusable bottles and bags and properly utilising segregated dustbins at stations, reaffirming its commitment to integrating green practices into daily operations and railway infrastructure development.
