Railways, GBA to Launch Joint Action Against Illegal Dumping on Railway Land in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: A joint review meeting on solid waste management on railway land and within the Greater Bengaluru area was held at the Bengaluru Divisional Railway Office on Saturday. Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti V. Somanna and Karnataka’s Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda jointly chaired the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the issue of illegal dumping of municipal waste and construction debris on railway land. The ministers stressed the need for close coordination between the Railways and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to keep railway land clean and prevent further encroachments through waste dumping.
V. Somanna directed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan for the immediate removal of waste dumped on railway land and to ensure sustained cleanliness. He also instructed that the GBA, Railways, BWSSB, BESCOM and all other concerned agencies work under a common coordination mechanism to ensure effective solid waste management.
The minister said the introduction of bio-toilets in trains had significantly improved sanitation in the railway system. He also directed officials to initiate stringent action, including the imposition of penalties, against those found dumping waste on railway property.
Krishna Byre Gowda emphasised the need to make Bengaluru free from waste and announced that a month-long cleanliness drive would be launched across the city from August 1, 2026.
Both ministers instructed officials to identify and close unauthorised access roads being used to dump garbage and construction debris onto railway land.
Officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority assured full cooperation in implementing scientific waste disposal methods and long-term solutions for effective solid waste management.
The meeting was attended by Bengaluru Divisional Railway Manager Ashutosh Kumar Singh, Greater Bengaluru Authority Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, BWSSB Chairperson Manjula, K-RIDE Chief Engineer Laxman Singh, and senior officials of South Western Railway and the Greater Bengaluru Authority.
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