Days before the launch of the inaugural Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, Indian Railway Accounts Service officer and Chief Project Manager Ananth Rupanagudi had urged passengers to travel responsibly, follow washroom instructions, and respect public property. However, within hours of its ceremonial flag-off between Howrah and Guwahati on Saturday, a viral video showed plastic packets and spoons littered across the train, highlighting a lack of civic sense.

Despite premium fares — 3AC tickets on Vande Bharat cost around Rs 2,300 compared to Rs 1,500 on regular trains — passengers treated the world-class train like any other coach. Experts note that long train journeys, the perception of railways as government property, and deeply ingrained habits contribute to repeated vandalism and littering. Unlike metros and airplanes, trains remain highly vulnerable to such behaviour, regardless of class or infrastructure quality.

Indian Railways has since acknowledged the issue, emphasizing that cleanliness is the responsibility of every citizen. The incident underscores a larger problem: public infrastructure can only be maintained if passengers cultivate civic sense, regardless of whether the train is new or old, expensive or affordable. Without a change in mindset, even India’s most modern transportation assets risk being treated like a dumping ground.