The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) released a report on August 12, 2024, after inspecting 512 non‑suburban stations across eight railway zones. It found that 59 stations had not carried out bacteriological analysis of drinking water, creating a gap in safety checks.
The audit detected the presence of E. coli in water coolers at two stations in Southern Railway, one in South Central Railway, four in Central Railway, and one in Eastern Railway. These findings raise serious health concerns for passengers.
Further testing of water from platform taps showed total coliform bacteria, including E. coli, at 49 stations in eight zones during 2022‑23 and at 56 stations in nine zones during 2023‑24. The presence of coliforms indicates that water quality standards are not being met.
The report also highlighted that bacteriological tests beyond total coliforms were unsatisfactory at eight stations in four zones in 2022‑23, and at 11 stations in five zones in 2023‑24.
The CAG’s audit covered the period from 2019‑20 to 2023‑24, incorporating earlier cases that had not been reported and, where relevant, incidents after 2023‑24.
India’s non‑suburban network comprises 5,908 stations. In 2023‑24, the railways ran 7,424 non‑suburban trains daily and carried 292.4 crore passengers.
The audit was carried out to assess whether the Railway Board’s guidelines for passenger amenities were being implemented effectively.
It found that 458 of the 512 stations examined—over 89%—were deficient in providing Minimum Essential Amenities (MEAs). Many stations either lacked MEAs entirely or offered them below the prescribed standards.
Railway Board instructions issued in April 2018 required all stations to provide MEAs, including drinking water, waiting halls, seating, platform shelters, urinals, latrines, high‑level platforms, fans, foot‑over bridges, dustbins, clocks, and public address systems, by 31 August 2018.
Even top‑category stations such as CSMT, Howrah, Sealdah, New Delhi, and Mumbai Central showed gaps in seating, sanitation facilities, dustbins, and electronic train indicators.
The audit recorded shortfalls of latrines at 201 stations, urinals at 403 stations, and water taps at 2,035 stations, among other deficiencies.
The CAG recommends that the railways enforce strict inspection protocols for water supply systems and conduct comprehensive testing of drinking water quality under the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol.
Adhering to these recommendations will help ensure that passengers receive safe water and adequate amenities at all stations.