the goan I network
MARGAO/VASCO
Laying stress on cleanliness and plastic free railway stations, Union Minister of State for Railways, Suresh Angadi on Wednesday said people of Goa should advise the tourists visiting the State not to make the places of tourist importance dirty.
Laying the foundation stone for a Rs 5 crore footbridge connecting all the four platforms at the Margao railway station on Wednesday in the presence of Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik, Opposition leader Digambar Kamat and Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, the Union Minister of State for Railways said that the authorities as well as the citizens, and the passengers should endeavour to make every railway station clean and hygienic on par with the airports. “Maintaining the stations and trains is not the duty of only the officials. Local citizens should also join hands in the endeavour. People from Goa should advise the visitors not to dirty the place,” he said.
Reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on a plastic-free India, Angadi said tourism is growing in the country and the government’s stress on cleanliness should be supported by one and all.
Angadi said use of jute and cotton bags instead of plastic will also provide employment to the farmers and traders and also give a boost to small scale industries.
After flagging off bi-weekly train between Vasco and Belagavi, Angadi said that as a part of a new initiative, Indian Railways will make all its stations and trains plastic-free in phased manner which will also subsequently help artisans and farmers across the country. “South Western Railway has already began talks with section of potters from Karnataka who will supply clay pots for serving tea on the trains, replacing the traditional use of plastic on it. Indian Railway’s initiative to shift towards plastic-free operations will help the farmers and artisans, who will be in demand for their products,” said Angadi.
Angadi said PM Narendra Modi had appealed to citizens on Independence Day to make India Plastic Free.
“Right now, we can say, the Indian Railway is 25 per cent plastic free. We want to make it hundred per cent for which the attempts have begun. We will join hands in the initiative taken up by PM Narendra Modi on Independence Day,” said Angadi.
“Making a law to ban plastic in Railways won’t help till the people themselves realise that plastic use has to be stopped for a larger cause. There has to be awareness and this initiative though may take some time, will be achieved in phases. Ultimately, the people will have to decide to make Railways plastic free. Indian Railways plastic free campaign will start in phases,” said Angadi.
In his address, Union Ayush Minister Shripad Naik also laid stress on cleanliness and plastic-free State considering Goa’s status as the tourism hub. While making a fervent plea not to use plastic, Shripad said the objective can be achieved if all citizens join hands in this endeavour.
Expressing his support to the Konkan railway to improve passenger amenities, the Union Minister pointed out that he has chipped in at least Rs 1.5 crore from his MPLAD scheme to augment passenger services at the KR stations in Goa. The new Foot Overbridge (FOB) at the Margao railway station will connect the existing four platforms. It will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore and is expected to ease the movement of passenger traffic and increase passenger safety.
