A fresh debate around civic responsibility has erupted online after a video showing garbage strewn inside a newly launched Vande Bharat Sleeper train began circulating widely on social media.
The high-speed Vande Bharat Sleeper service connecting Howrah and Guwahati was flagged off on Saturday, but within hours of its inaugural run, visuals from inside one of the coaches raised concerns. The viral clip, reportedly recorded by a passenger in Malda, shows plastic food packets, disposable spoons and wrappers scattered across the floor of the coach.
Sharing the video on X, the handle @Indianinfoguide wrote, “People litter on vande bharat Sleeper train within hours of its inaugural run. Just see the civic sense.”
Social media outrage over ‘lack of civic sense’
The video quickly gained traction, triggering sharp reactions from users who criticised passengers for failing to respect public property, especially premium infrastructure.
One user wrote, “Without civic sense, even world-class infra like Vande Bharat, luxury airports, or wide roads becomes hard to maintain. Civic sense is basically common sense in public spaces — and it should be mandatory in primary education from this generation onwards, or the problem will pass down forever.”
Another commenter said, “The government should soon pass a law to introduce civic sense classes starting from LKG, just like in Japan and other European countries.”
A third reaction read, “India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper looks world class… until passengers treat it like a roadside dustbin within hours of launch. Civic sense isn’t optional, it’s what separates premium travel from another dirty coach.”
Adding to the criticism, another user remarked, “Wait for orange gutkha stamps.”
Past incidents and contrasting examples
This is not the first time Vande Bharat trains have been at the centre of a cleanliness-related controversy. In 2023, a photograph showing garbage, including plastic bottles and food wrappers, littering the floor of a Vande Bharat Express coach had sparked widespread outrage.
The image also showed a railway staff member holding a broom while cleaning the coach. Sharing the photo on X, IAS officer Awanish Sharan had written, “We The People.”
In contrast, social media users recently praised a video from Kerala showing spotless platforms at Thalassery railway station. Shared by a content creator, the clip highlighted gleaming floors with no visible litter, drawing appreciation and comparisons online.
The contrasting visuals have once again brought the spotlight back on public behaviour, with many users arguing that modern infrastructure alone cannot ensure cleanliness unless accompanied by a strong sense of civic responsibility among commuters.