Railway Ministry Seeks Cost Estimates to Deploy Housekeeping Staff on Vande Bharat

The Ministry of Railways has initiated a financial review of proposals to deploy dedicated on-board housekeeping staff for Vande Bharat trains, seeking detailed cost implications from the Northern and East Central Railway zones to standardise cleanliness protocols across these premium services. In letters dated November 20, 2025, to the general managers of both zones, the ministry—following consultations with its Finance Directorate—requested comprehensive data on current housekeeping arrangements in Vande Bharat, Rajdhani Express, and Shatabdi trains, alongside projected expenses for enhanced staffing. The zones have been urged to submit their responses by November 25, 2025, to facilitate prompt processing and potential policy formulation amid growing passenger demands for improved hygiene in India's flagship high-speed rail network.

The push for standardised deployment stems from earlier representations by the zones highlighting gaps in existing guidelines, which were primarily designed for conventional trains and fall short for the intensive operations of Vande Bharat services. On May 9, 2025, Northern Railway wrote to the ministry advocating for uniform norms, noting that Vande Bharat's chair car and upcoming sleeper variants require robust cleaning to uphold their prestige. Similarly, East Central Railway (ECR) submitted a request on May 7, 2025, emphasising the trains' demanding schedules—often covering around 1,000 kilometres or 13 hours daily—which necessitate proactive measures like interior mopping, washroom maintenance, garbage disposal, and collection of passenger leftovers at regular intervals to meet elevated expectations.

Northern Railway has proposed a staffing model of one On-Board Housekeeping Services (OBHS) staff member per two coaches for both chair car and sleeper variants, supplemented by one linen attendant per coach in sleepers and one executive housekeeping supervisor per train for oversight. ECR's recommendations align closely, suggesting one janitor per two coaches for Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat trains (with one executive staff), while scaling to one janitor per three coaches for Amrit Bharat services, including dedicated personnel for unreserved vestibule areas. These suggestions aim to optimise resource allocation, ensure consistent service quality, and address current ad hoc arrangements, such as Northern Railway's partial implementation of one OBHS staff per two coaches without a nationwide framework.

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As Indian Railways expands its semi-high-speed fleet—with over 50 Vande Bharat trains operational and more under production—this inquiry underscores a strategic focus on passenger-centric enhancements to bolster satisfaction and competitiveness. Standardisation could not only elevate cleanliness standards but also streamline budgeting and training across zones, reflecting the ministry's commitment to modernising amenities in line with the Vande Bharat's role as a symbol of efficient, comfortable travel. Officials anticipate the zones' inputs will pave the way for a policy rollout early next year, potentially setting precedents for other premium routes.

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