Palakkad Junction has emerged first among railway stations in Kerala in terms of cleanliness. Among stations across the country, it has been ranked 11 for better hygiene and cleanliness. Ernakulam Junction has emerged second in the State.

The ranking has been done based on a survey commissioned by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and Environment and Housekeeping Management Directorate of Railway Board using the professional expertise of survey agency TNS India Private Limited.

The survey, based on passenger feedbacks, has lauded the station for its modern scientific solid waste management initiatives. The station also has better passenger amenities.

The survey has found that the junction station is keeping the parameters of Swach Bharath Abhiyan initiatives of the Union government.

Officials said the station was implementing various cleanliness standards with greater vigour. It was only last week officers and staff took a pledge dedicating themselves for better cleanliness and passenger amenities as continuation of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to achieve the national target for total cleanliness by the year 2019.

“The thrust of the campaign and the drives this year will be to bring in systemic changes so that sustained improvement in cleanliness is achieved and to involve much larger section of the staff, users and society, including charitable/social organisations,” an official statement said.