KOZHIKODE: As many as 11 railway stations under Palakkad railway division have been accredited with ISO 14001: 2015 environmental management system certification in recognition of the eco- friendly measures put in place at the stations.

Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Palakkad, Pratap Singh Shami gave away the certificates to station officials at a fuction held at the DRM office on Thursday.

The stations which received ISO 14001:2015 certification for Environmental Management System are Kasaragod, Kanhangad, Payyannur, Kannur, Thalassery, Vadakara, Quilandi and Tirur, Mangaluru Central, Mangaluru Junction. Kozhikode was the first railway station in Palakkad division to receive the ISO 14001:2015. The station received certification the month of September 2019.

Railway authorities said that the certification process for four more stations -Palakkad Junction, Ottapalam , Shoranur Junction, Kuttipuram in Palakkad Division is under final stage.

Railway officials said that introduction of comprehensive mechanised cleaning at the stations and bio- toilets on trains have helped in improving cleanliness standard of the stations. After the introduction of bio toilets faecal matter is not discharged to the railway track.

Railways have been enforcing clearning at the railway stations and other railway premises by imposing penalty to those who are dirtying the premises(the penalty will be in the range between Rs 200 and Rs 5,00 and Rs.1500 for waste dumping in railway station premises).

ISO 14001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system (EMS). It accredits an organisation that manages its environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner as per standard norms.

The certification is valid for three years from the issued date. Certified agencies are assigned with monitoring and auditing the mechanical cleaning, anti-treatment, quality cleaning, chemical etc. utilised at the railway stations. This practice is done to see whether passengers are getting clean environment in the station premises.

