After toilet etiquette plea, Indian Railway official’s fresh message for Vande Bharat Sleeper passengers

Vande Bharat Sleeper

• Vande Bharat Sleeper Express cleanliness is a shared duty, says official
• Passengers urged to use toilets properly and dispose trash in dustbins
• Guwahati-Howrah train starts Jan 17, only confirmed tickets available.

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As debate grows around passenger behaviour ahead of India’s upcoming Vande Bharat Sleeper Express launch, a senior Indian Railways official has reiterated that maintaining cleanliness on premium trains is a shared responsibility between the Railways and travellers.

Chief Project Manager of Indian Railways Ananth Rupanagudi, responding to criticism over his earlier remarks, said he was “pleasantly surprised” by the wide response his post received on social media platform X.

“I am pleasantly surprised that this post has got tremendous response. Though it may seem a little preachy, it's just to encourage responsible travel, of which I am a great advocate. It takes two to tango and thus, small efforts from both sides can make a big difference,” Rupanagudi wrote on X.

I am pleasantly surprised that this post has got tremendous response. Though it may seem a little preachy, it's just to encourage responsible travel, of which I am a great advocate. It takes two to tango and thus, small efforts from both sides can make a big difference.

Well,… https://t.co/SHiZcTmO5W — Ananth Rupanagudi (@Ananth_IRAS) January 14, 2026

Acknowledging shortcomings on the Railways’ part, he said Indian Railways must do more to ensure cleanliness at stations and inside coaches.

“Well, yes, Indian Railways has to do its bit to encourage cleanliness in stations and coaches. Yes, it has to act tough against vendors and cleanliness staff who throw the trash on the tracks, and probably clean up the dustbins at regular intervals. And we are trying our best, though the best doesn't seem to be enough,” he said.

However, Rupanagudi stressed that passenger behaviour plays a crucial role, especially on modern trains like the Vande Bharat Sleeper.

“But a lot can be achieved with the help of our valuable passengers. Just the mere act of flushing after use of toilets can make a difference. And yes, they shouldn't throw trash inside the bio-toilets. Please take that extra effort to walk to the dustbins to dispose of the trash. If you are travelling in a group, please carry extra plastic bags and dispose of them at the dustbins in stations,” he added.

The clarification comes after Rupanagudi’s earlier post, made ahead of the formal launch of the Vande Bharat Sleeper, sparked online debate. In that post, he said only passengers who know how to use toilets properly and respect public property should travel on the new premium service. The remarks went viral, garnering over 80,000 views.

Responding to users who flagged poor maintenance in 2AC and 3AC coaches, including non-functional flush systems and lack of water or tissues, Rupanagudi countered that such issues are not common on premium trains. He added that many passengers fail to flush toilets or check whether the system is working.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper Express is scheduled to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Guwahati–Howrah route on January 17. The service introduces a no-RAC, no-waiting-list ticketing system, with only confirmed tickets being issued.

According to the Railway Board, passengers will be charged a minimum fare equivalent to a 400-km journey, even for shorter distances. Officials said fares will be marginally higher than trains like the Rajdhani, while travel time is expected to reduce by nearly three hours.

Railway officials have maintained that as rail services become more modern, passenger responsibility must evolve alongside infrastructure upgrades.