A recent audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has uncovered alarming deficiencies in passenger facilities across the Indian Railways network. The comprehensive evaluation revealed the presence of E. coli bacteria in drinking water samples taken from station water coolers, posing a significant health risk to commuters. Furthermore, the audit highlighted widespread non-compliance with essential amenity standards, with a staggering 89% of stations failing to meet mandatory criteria.
E. coli Contamination Confirmed
During its extensive assessment of 512 non-suburban grade (NSG) railway stations across all zones, the CAG audit specifically identified E. coli contamination in water cooler samples. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the pathogen, known to cause severe food poisoning and other illnesses, in several key railway zones.
- Southern Railway (SR): Coimbatore and Palakkad Junctions
- South Central Railway (SCR): Hyderabad
- Central Railway (CR): Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan, and Lonavala
- Eastern Railway (ER): Madhupur
This discovery points to critical lapses in water quality management and hygiene protocols at these vital public transit hubs.
Widespread Amenity Shortfalls
Beyond water safety, the audit exposed systemic failures in providing basic passenger infrastructure. Out of the 512 stations evaluated, 458 — more than 89 percent — did not adhere to the Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA) standards. These facilities were either entirely absent or fell significantly short of prescribed benchmarks.
The Railway Board had issued clear instructions in April 2018, mandating that MEAs, including drinking water, waiting halls, seating, platform shelters, urinals, latrines, high-level platforms, fans, Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), dustbins, clocks, and public address systems, be ensured at all stations by August 31, 2018. Despite these directives, the audit found persistent non-compliance.
Deficiencies at Top-Tier Stations
Even major NSG-1 stations, which manage substantial daily passenger traffic, exhibited significant shortcomings. Stations like New Delhi, Mumbai Central, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Howrah, and Sealdah were found to have inadequate essential seating, insufficient sanitary facilities (latrines and urinals), a shortage of waste bins, and missing or malfunctioning electronic train indicator boards.
Further analysis of the Passenger Amenities Management System reinforced these findings, documenting inadequate latrines at 201 stations, missing or insufficient urinals at 403 stations, and a lack of water taps at 2,035 stations across the network. Given that Indian Railways serves 292.4 crore non-suburban passengers annually across 5,908 stations, the scale of these lapses is substantial.
CAG Issues Corrective Instructions
In response to its findings, the CAG has urged Indian Railways to implement corrective measures. The audit report specifically calls for strict adherence to prescribed protocols for inspecting water supply systems and comprehensive testing of drinking water quality, encompassing all parameters outlined in the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol. The recommendations aim to ensure the safety and comfort of millions of passengers utilizing the vast railway network.