India’s trash sleeper cells now target Vande Bharat

Days before the launch of the inaugural Vande Bharat sleeper express, IndianIndianIndian Railway Accounts Service officer and Chief Project Manager Ananth Rupanagudi had advised people to travel on the train "only if you have learnt your toilet manners", "only if you obey the instructions given in the washrooms," and "have respect for public property".

Turns out the behaviour of Indian travellers is predictable, be it inside the toilet or outside. The high-tech Vande Bharat Sleeper, flagged off between Howrah and Guwahati on Saturday, barely made it through the day before a viral video by evening showed plastic packets and spoons littered across the floor. Who are these people? These are the sleeper cells of equality. While the government polishes and promotes Vande Bharat, and leaves the dingy old ones to their own fate, as alleged by several Indian rail fans, the passengers of the Indian Railways are great levellers, it seems.

They do not believe in discrimination. Every train is treated equally poorly. For them, whether it's the Vande Bharat or the Saraighat Express. It's all the same for them. While it is an entirely different matter that the Indian Railways and the government have disproportionately showered limelight and attention on the Vande Bharat, this hasn't deterred people from turning the shiny new compartments into dumping grounds.