Chief Project Manager of Indian Railways, Ananth Rupanagudi, has urged passengers to use the upcoming Vande Bharat Sleeper Express responsibly, stressing that basic toilet etiquette and respect for public property are essential. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he said the main concern is that many passengers do not flush toilets or check whether the system is functioning properly.
His post went viral, drawing over 80,000 views and triggering a wider online debate.
Focus shifts to passenger behaviour
Even before the train’s official launch, discussions have centred more on passenger hygiene and behaviour than on speed or modern facilities. Several users pointed out that issues such as non-functional flush systems, lack of water or tissues are sometimes seen even in premium coaches like 2AC and 3AC.
Railways responds to criticism
Responding to criticism, Rupanagudi said such problems are rare on premium services. He also dismissed viral videos allegedly showing railway staff dumping garbage on tracks, calling them selective or outdated. The Railways reiterated that cleanliness rules are being strictly enforced, with heavy fines for vendors found violating norms.
Vande Bharat Sleeper: key details
The Vande Bharat Sleeper Express will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 17 on the Guwahati–Howrah route. The new service will run only with confirmed tickets, with no RAC or waiting list. Fares are expected to be slightly higher than Rajdhani trains, while travel time may reduce by nearly three hours.
Modern trains, shared responsibility
Railway officials said that as Indian Railways upgrades its services, passenger behaviour must also improve. The strong message on toilet manners underlines the need for hygiene, discipline and shared responsibility on modern, premium trains.