While the Nagpur railway station undergoes significant infrastructure improvements, a fundamental crisis has been pushed into the shadows: a severe lack of basic sanitation and hygiene. Passengers are raising loud alarms over rampant filth, unchecked littering, and a disturbing infestation of rodents across platforms, tracks, and waiting areas, creating what many call a serious public health hazard.
Rats on the Run: A Routine and Alarming Sight
Commuters report that the sight of rodents has become a daily, unsettling norm. The pests are frequently seen scurrying along railway tracks, darting across busy platforms, and venturing dangerously close to seating areas and food stalls. This constant presence has shifted from surprise to anxiety, with travellers deeply concerned about the spread of diseases.
"You can see rats running freely. Nagpur is a major junction connecting all parts of India. If this is the condition here, what message are we sending to travellers from outside," said Ramesh Thakur, a passenger waiting for a train to Vadodara. His sentiment echoes the worry of many that the station, a gateway to the region, presents a poor and unhygienic image.
Filthy Tracks and Civic Apathy: The Root of the Problem
The zones along the tracks are identified as epicenters of the unhygienic conditions. They are described as choked with layers of grime, stagnant water, and accumulated waste. Overflowing garbage bins, discarded plastic bottles, food leftovers, and packaging material have created ideal breeding grounds for the rodent population.
Passengers point fingers at a dual failure: poor civic sense among some commuters and inadequate enforcement by the authorities. "People litter without fear because penalties are rarely enforced. But cleaning also seems cosmetic. Real sanitation is missing," explained Sunita Deshmukh, a daily commuter to Wardha. The situation is worsened by foul odours emanating from the tracks and clogged drainage lines.
"With stagnant water and garbage everywhere, rats thriving here is not surprising. This is a serious health hazard for passengers," stated another traveller, Mohammad Irfan. The problem is reportedly so pervasive that even railway offices and RPF premises have not been spared, with rodents allegedly damaging wires and documents.
Official Response and Mitigation Efforts
Responding to the mounting concerns, senior divisional commercial manager Aman Mittal acknowledged the issue while highlighting the challenges. He stated that regular cleaning is carried out and identified passenger littering as a key reason for the rodent presence.
"Rats are often seen on tracks because food is thrown there. We clean the tracks regularly and have contracts in place where rat control is part of the sanitation work. Anything thrown on the tracks is cleared twice a day," Mittal said. He added that no official complaint regarding rat infestation inside railway offices has been received so far.
On enforcement, Mittal said ticket checking staff impose a Rs 500 fine on passengers caught littering and that signboards have been installed across the station to discourage the practice. He also pointed to a new initiative where trash bags are now collected from trains passing through Nagpur and Ballarshah stations. "This ensures dustbins inside trains are emptied, encouraging passengers to use them instead of throwing waste onto the tracks," he explained.
The contrast between ongoing infrastructure upgrades and the persistent basic sanitation failings at Nagpur junction underscores a critical gap in station management. For passengers, the message is clear: modernization means little without consistent cleanliness and effective pest control to ensure public health and safety.
