Railway Ministry Seeks Zonal Reports on CAG Findings Over E. Coli, Passenger Amenities

The Railway Ministry has directed all its zones to provide an updated response to the findings of the CAG regarding the presence of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, in water coolers, as well as serious deficiencies in passenger amenities at several stations across the country.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) audited 512 stations across railway zones and flagged deficiencies in one or more Minimum Essential Amenities (MEAs) at 458 stations. The report, tabled in Parliament on August 12, identified gaps in drinking water, seating, toilets, platform shelters, fans, water coolers and signage. Even high-revenue and high-footfall stations recorded significant shortfalls.

In its September 9 letter, the Railway Ministry asked all zonal railways to furnish updated para-wise comments and action-taken status on the audit observations by September 11, marking the matter as urgent. The directive shifts the focus from identifying deficiencies to establishing what corrective measures have actually been implemented.

Drinking-water safety emerged as a major concern. The CAG found total coliform bacteria, including E. coli, in water samples from platform taps at 49 stations across eight zones in 2022-23 and 56 stations across nine zones in 2023-24. Water-cooler samples tested positive for E. coli at eight stations, including Coimbatore, Palakkad Junction, Hyderabad, CSMT, Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan, Lonavala and Madhupur.

The audit also found that bacteriological tests other than total coliform were unsatisfactory at eight stations in 2022-23 and 11 stations in 2023-24. Testing gaps were significant, with bacteriological analysis not conducted at 59 stations across six zones, while chemical testing was not undertaken by health inspectors at 179 stations across 11 zones. At another 77 stations across six zones, chemical testing was not carried out at the prescribed frequency.

The findings prompted the Railways to launch a special cleanliness and disinfection drive, covering drinking-water tanks, filtration systems, coolers and dispensing points. The ministry has also introduced a “tank-to-tap” approach, with water-quality testing at sources, treatment points, storage tanks and consumption points, alongside residual-chlorine monitoring.

Sanitation deficiencies were equally widespread. The CAG found shortages of toilets at 201 stations and urinals at 403 stations, while 128 drinking-water booths were unhygienic and 77 stations had unclean platforms. Stray dogs were reported at 301 stations.

The audit further found 59 per cent of passenger-amenity works were delayed, while 36-44 per cent of budget grants for passenger amenities remained unutilised annually between 2019-20 and 2023-24.

The Railway Ministry’s latest directive, therefore, places zonal accountability at the centre of its response, with the effectiveness of the measures ultimately depending on sustained improvements in water safety, sanitation, maintenance and passenger amenities.