Northeast Frontier Railway launches campaign to end plastic pollution

Agartala, May 31, 2025 : In a decisive step towards promoting environmental sustainability, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has launched a focused campaign to eliminate plastic pollution from its premises and develop a few major railway stations as plastic-free stations. The initiative was formally launched during a high-level meeting held on 29th of May 2025 at the NFR Headquarters in Maligaon as a part of the World Environment Day 2025 campaign. The meeting was graced by the esteemed presence of ShriChetan Kumar Shrivastava, General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), along with senior officials from all departments and divisions and distinguished guest Professor VimalKatiyar from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG).

The campaign is part of NFR’s broader observance of the World Environment Day 2025, which runs from 22nd of May till 05th of June 2025 and is aligned with the Indian Railways’ Swachh Bharat and environmental sustainability goals. The initiative is designed to drive behavioural change, eliminate single-use plastics and promote the use of sustainable alternatives across station premises.

During the meeting, Professor VimalKatiyar delivered a compelling lecture on “Ending Plastic Pollution in NFR and Making 5 NFR Stations Plastic-Free.” He highlighted the environmental and health hazards posed by plastic waste and emphasized the urgent need for systemic and behavioural changes. Professor Kataria also presented viable alternatives to plastic and outlined how the Indian Railways can serve as a model for sustainable public infrastructure.

As part of the action plan, NFR will implement awareness campaigns, vendor sensitization and coordinate with state authorities and local women-led enterprises, including initiatives such as the MukhyaMantriMahilaUdyamitaAbhiyaan (MMUA). These partnerships aim to establish a sustainable supply chain of biodegradable products through platforms like the One Station One Product (OSOP) stalls. Vendors will be encouraged to shift to eco-friendly packaging solutions, and a dedicated task force will monitor progress at each station.

IIT Guwahati will serve as the technical partner for this mission, supporting the setup of indigenous machinery for the production and distribution of biodegradable items. These alternatives will gradually replace plastic products used by passengers and vendors. The collaboration will also engage local startups and manufacturers, ensuring scalability, affordability, and long-term sustainability.

The General Manager of NFR expressed his appreciation to Professor Katiyar for his insights and reiterated NFR’s dedication to creating a plastic-free, environmentally responsible railway system. He called on all stakeholders—including railway staff, vendors, passengers and local communities—to actively participate in this green transformation. The meeting concluded with clear action points, including the nomination of nodal officers, station-specific plans and the preparation of agreements with IIT Guwahati.

This campaign marks a significant stride in NFR’s journey towards environmental stewardship and underscores its commitment to fostering a cleaner, greener future for the region and the nation.

CPRO, NFR K K Sharma informed this in a press release.