CAG: E. coli in Railway Water, 90% Stations Lack Amenities

A recent audit by India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has uncovered the presence of E. coli bacteria in drinking water samples collected from numerous railway stations across the country. This report also highlighted that a significant 90% of the inspected non-suburban stations lacked minimum essential amenities, pointing to widespread deficiencies in passenger facilities.

CAG Uncovers Water Safety and Amenity Deficiencies

The CAG’s comprehensive review focused specifically on sanitation facilities and passenger amenities at non-suburban stations. Their findings revealed critical issues concerning water safety and basic infrastructure across various railway zones, detailed as follows:

• Test results from 49 stations in eight zones during 2022-23 and 56 stations in nine zones during 2023-24 indicated Total coliforms bacteria, including E. coli.
• Bacteriological tests, beyond total coliforms, were deemed unsatisfactory at eight stations in four zones during 2022-23 and 11 stations in five zones in FY24.
• Deficiencies were noted in the inspection of water supply systems, alongside shortfalls in testing for residual chlorine, bacteriological analysis, and chemical analysis.

Indian Railways Mobilizes ‘Tank to Tap’ Remedial Plan

In direct response to these alarming findings, the Indian government and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have initiated a serious action plan. The Indian Railways is set to implement a new ‘Tank to Tap’ water filtration system as a top priority, with several key components:

• Installation of 20,000 ‘Tank to Tap’ water filtration systems, including at water coolers, across various locations.
• Introduction of a comprehensive water filtration and monitoring system to enhance oversight and quality control.
• Replacement of existing water tanks to upgrade infrastructure and prevent potential contamination sources.
• Enforcement of strict compliance with regular water quality testing at both source and outlet points.
• Establishment of centralized monitoring and accountability mechanisms for efficient management.
• Scheduled regular cleaning and maintenance of storage tanks to ensure sustained hygiene standards.

This extensive initiative forms part of a broader commitment to address all CAG observations and significantly enhance the overall travel experience for passengers. To ensure transparency, progress and water quality reports will be published periodically, underscoring the ministry’s dedication to public safety.