Eastern Railway awarded CII Certificate of Excellence for contribution to a Greener Bengal and India

Eastern Railway has been conferred with the prestigious Certificate of Excellence by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in recognition of its outstanding contribution towards building a sustainable and environmentally responsible future. The award was presented during the Green Bengal Summit 2025, held on June 6, 2025.

The award was received on behalf of Eastern Railway by Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Howrah, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, who reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to advancing green infrastructure and environmentally conscious transportation systems.

This esteemed recognition highlights Eastern Railway’s continuous efforts and innovative initiatives in promoting eco-friendly practices, energy efficiency, and sustainable development across its operations in Bengal and beyond. Eastern Railway remains dedicated to supporting national goals on sustainability and climate action, and this honour serves as a testament to its leadership in the green transformation of Indian Railways.

The award demonstrates Eastern Railways relentless strive to eliminate ‘Carbon Emission’ along with ‘Zero Tolerance’ to Single Use Plastics which of late has emerged to be the cause of Environmental Sadness.

On the occasion of World Environment Day 2025, themed “End Plastic Pollution”, Howrah & Malda Division of Eastern Railway have organised a large-scale Tree Plantation Programme across prominent locations, including key stations, and important goods siding areas. The initiative was conducted under the national campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, reinforcing the commitment to a greener and cleaner environment.

At Malda Town Station, the event was spearheaded by the Environment and Housekeeping Management department at the Railway Park, Mahananda Railway Colony. The programme was graced by Mr.  Manish Kumar Gupta, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Malda Division, along with Mrs. Manisha Gupta, President of the Eastern Railway Women’s Welfare Organisation (ERWWO), Malda,

Mr.  R.V. Nagarele, Chief Project Manager of Gatishakti, senior branch officers, ERWWO members, railway staff, and their families.

DRM / Malda had inaugurated the drive by planting a sapling and delivered an inspiring address emphasising the importance of ecological responsibility and sustainable practices. A total of 2,000 saplings were planted at Malda Town in collaboration with local NGO ‘Ma Anandmayee Seva Ashram, Malda’, with enthusiastic participation from the railway official, staff and railway colonies residents. Simultaneously, plantation activities were carried out at several key locations across the Division.

At Sahebganj, 5,000 saplings were planted in collaboration with NGO “Sanjivini Ganga, Sahebganj”, under the supervision of AEN/SBG. While in Bhagalpur, another 5,000 saplings were planted at Barahat, Tikani, and Mandarhill station areas under the supervision of AEN/BGP, in collaboration with Adani Power. At Jamalpur Diesel Shed, Sr. DME/DSL/JMP Shri Krishna Kumar Das and staff led the plantation drive and took a pledge on environmental conservation. Supervised by AEN/Jamalpur, a total of 3,250 saplings were planted at Daulatpur goods Siding, Akbarnagar Station, Jamalpur Workshop. At the Munger Railway Station 1,000 saplings were planted in collaboration with local NGO “Munger Seva Manch”, which also adopted the maintenance of Munger Station’s green garden.

In total, 25,000 saplings were planted across the Malda Division. The plantation followed the Miyawaki technique, a method developed by Japanese botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, known for creating dense, native forests in a short time.

Howrah Division of Eastern Railway has taken a decisive step towards environmental sustainability. Under the guidance of Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Howrah Division has imposed a strict ban on the use of single-use plastic across all IRCTC-managed food stalls, One Station One Product (OSOP) stalls, and other licensed commercial outlets throughout the division.

This initiative is aligned with Indian Railways’ broader vision of promoting green practices and minimising plastic pollution. All stall licensees have been directed to immediately discontinue the use of single-use plastic items such as plastic bags, cups, straws, and packaging materials. As per the new directive, any violation will lead to seizure of plastic items and penalties against the licensees involved.

To ensure strict enforcement of the guidelines, on 6th June 2025, a dedicated team from the Commercial Department of Howrah Division conducted a thorough inspection of stalls at Howrah Station. The team verified compliance with the ban and took necessary steps to address any discrepancies found. Howrah Division calls upon all vendors, passengers, and stakeholders to cooperate in this important environmental initiative. The collective effort to eliminate single-use plastic is essential for creating a cleaner and more sustainable future for the Indian Railways and the nation.

Team Maverick