New Delhi: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has ordered a nationwide overhaul of the railway water-supply system, directing the rollout of a “Tank to Tap” filtration and monitoring mechanism at around 20,000 locations after a CAG audit flagged contamination risks and gaps in drinking-water facilities at several stations.
The initiative will cover the entire water-supply chain, with the Railways planning to replace old water tanks, conduct regular testing at both source and outlet points, and ensure scheduled cleaning and maintenance of tanks. Monitoring mechanisms will also be strengthened to ensure timely detection and resolution of water-quality issues.
The move follows a CAG audit of 512 non-suburban railway stations, which highlighted significant deficiencies in drinking water, sanitation and other essential passenger amenities.
The audit detected E. coli in water-cooler samples at eight stations — Coimbatore, Palakkad Junction, Hyderabad, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan, Lonavala and Madhupur. Platform tap samples also showed total coliform bacteria, with contamination detected at 49 stations in 2022-23 and 56 stations in 2023-24.
The CAG report found that 458 of the 512 stations, or more than 89 per cent, failed to meet Minimum Essential Amenities standards. The deficiencies included inadequate latrine facilities at 201 stations, urinals at 403 stations and drinking-water taps at 2,035 locations.
Even some major NSG-1 stations, including CSMT, Howrah, Sealdah, New Delhi and Mumbai Central, were found to be lacking certain basic passenger facilities.
The Railway Board will oversee the implementation of the “Tank to Tap” programme, with periodic water-quality and progress reports to be published. The move is aimed at strengthening accountability and ensuring that water supplied to passengers remains safe from the source through to the point of consumption.
The CAG has recommended stricter compliance with water-supply inspection procedures and comprehensive testing under the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol.
(IANS)
