Eastern Railway (ER) on Saturday, 4 July launched the third phase of its intensive cleanliness drive, titled 'Eastern Railway is Watching You', empowering passengers to report littering and spitting across all railway premises — and earn an official 'Captain Clean' certificate for doing so. The initiative was formally launched by Milind Deouskar, General Manager of Eastern Railway, at a ceremony in Kolkata.

How the Reporting System Works

Passengers who witness littering or spitting anywhere on ER premises can photograph or video the incident and send it to the dedicated helpline number 9002022780, along with the exact location. Railway authorities will then trace the offender using the submitted evidence and impose an on-the-spot fine. In some cases, offenders may also be asked to vacate the premises.

Those who submit valid reports will be formally recognised as 'Captain Clean' and receive an official certificate of appreciation from Eastern Railway — a move designed to incentivise community participation in hygiene enforcement.

CCTV Surveillance at the Core

Beyond citizen reporting, ER has deployed a vast network of CCTV cameras backed by dedicated railway staff to continuously monitor passenger behaviour across stations and premises. Footage is actively reviewed to identify violations.

'The core message of the campaign is that Eastern Railway is always watching and constantly monitoring the premises to maintain absolute hygiene,' an official said. 'Anyone caught littering or spitting will face an immediate, on-the-spot fine.'

Officials described the campaign as operating under a strict zero-tolerance policy — a significant escalation from earlier awareness-only phases.

What Railway Leadership Said

General Manager Milind Deouskar stated that ER was making 'relentless efforts' to transform the travel experience through clean and well-maintained station environments. He emphasised that passengers were being empowered through the digital reporting system to act as 'eyes on the ground', and that a culture of accountability was being built across all divisions to make cleanliness a daily habit rather than an occasional choice.

ER Chief Public Relations Officer Shibram Majhi reinforced the message, saying, 'Cleanliness is not a choice but a habit,' and urged every passenger to join the campaign. Majhi characterised the initiative as not merely a regulatory measure but 'a significant step towards community-driven cleanliness.'

Context and Significance

This is the third phase of the 'Eastern Railway is Watching You' campaign, indicating a sustained, multi-stage institutional commitment to hygiene — rather than a one-off drive. Notably, the introduction of citizen-sourced evidence marks a shift from passive surveillance to active public co-enforcement, a model increasingly adopted by urban civic bodies but relatively novel for Indian Railways.

The campaign covers all ER divisions and premises, with the stated aim of making cleanliness a systemic norm across one of India's busiest rail networks. With Phase 3 now underway, railway authorities are expected to intensify enforcement actions in the coming weeks.