A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has raised concerns over drinking water quality, sanitation and basic passenger amenities at railway stations across India. The audit of 512 non-suburban railway stations found E. coli in water cooler samples at eight stations, while bacteriological testing of drinking water was not carried out at 59 stations across six railway zones.
The affected water coolers were at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan and Lonavala in Central Railway; Coimbatore and Palakkad Junction in Southern Railway; Hyderabad in South Central Railway; and Madhupur in Eastern Railway. The report also found that 458 of the 512 stations had deficiencies in Minimum Essential Amenities. Following the findings, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and senior officials reviewed the issue, with Railways announcing a new “Tank to Tap” filtration system at around 20,000 locations.
Water Testing Gaps Raise
The CAG audit found that drinking water testing was not being carried out consistently despite Railway Board requirements. Tap water samples from 49 stations across eight zones in 2022-23 and 56 stations across nine zones in 2023-24 showed the presence of coliform bacteria. The audit also noted deficiencies in chemical analysis and residual chlorine testing, with some stations reporting unsatisfactory water quality. According to Indian Railways’ own drinking water standards, E. coli or thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria should not be detectable in a 100 ml sample, and their presence calls for immediate investigation.
The CAG’s findings are particularly significant because railway stations serve millions of passengers, many of whom depend on station water facilities during long journeys. The audit observed that inspection of water supply systems was not always carried out at the prescribed intervals and recommended that Railways ensure safe drinking water and strengthen monitoring mechanisms.
Other Amenities Also Fall Short
The concerns extend beyond drinking water. Analysis of the Railways’ Passenger Amenities Management System (PAMS) data showed a shortfall in water taps at 2,035 stations, latrines at 201 stations and urinals at 403 stations. The CAG also found that only five of 22 NSG-1 stations, which are among the country’s busiest and highest-earning non-suburban stations, had all the examined Minimum Essential Amenities as per prescribed norms. Major stations including CSMT, Dadar, Kalyan, Howrah, Sealdah, New Delhi, Chennai Egmore, Bengaluru City, Ahmedabad and Mumbai Central were among those where deficiencies were identified.
The findings also point to a gap between official records and the situation on the ground. During inspections, auditors found that PAMS data overstated the actual availability of certain facilities, including water taps, urinals and latrines. Railways told the CAG that providing Minimum Essential Amenities is a continuous process and that the norms are reviewed from time to time. Following the latest report, Railways said immediate corrective measures had been ordered.
Around 20,000 locations, including water coolers, will receive a “Tank to Tap” water filtration system, while water tanks will be replaced and regular testing will be carried out at source and outlet points. A senior Railway official said the issue was a “top priority area” that would be monitored directly at the Board level, with progress and water quality reports to be published periodically.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Safe drinking water, clean toilets and basic accessibility are not luxury features for railway passengers. They are fundamental public services, particularly for children, elderly people, women, persons with disabilities and passengers travelling long distances. The CAG findings are important not simply because they identify deficiencies, but because they highlight the need to close the gap between policies on paper and facilities available to people on the ground.
Railways’ decision to strengthen filtration, testing and monitoring is a welcome step, but its success will depend on consistent implementation, transparent reporting and accountability when standards are not met. At the same time, passengers can play a constructive role by reporting unsafe water, unusable toilets and missing amenities through official grievance mechanisms rather than ignoring such problems.
A railway network serving millions every day must ensure that basic dignity and safety remain at the heart of its modernisation. What more should be done to make safe water, sanitation and essential amenities a reliable reality at every railway station?
