E. coli detected in drinking water at some railway stations, CAG report cites violation of Railway Board norms
The latest audit by the CAG further claimed that nearly 90 per cent of non-suburban railway stations lacked the amenities prescribed for passengers.
A Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report found E. coli bacteria in drinking water from water coolers at several Indian railway stations, including in the Southern Railway zone. The audit, which examined passenger amenities at 512 non-suburban stations across all railway zones, discovered that nearly 90% of these stations lacked the prescribed amenities.
Of the 512 stations reviewed, 458 were deficient in Minimum Essential Amenities, with many failing to meet even basic sanitation requirements. The report also highlighted issues with bacteriological testing, with tests for other bacteria besides total coliforms, including E. coli, being unsatisfactory at eight stations in four zones in 2022-23 and 11 stations in five zones in 2023-24.
The Railway Board had issued guidelines in April 2018 for providing passenger amenities, but as of August 2023, only 42% of non-suburban stations had complied. The CAG urged the railways to ensure compliance with inspection protocols and comprehensive testing of drinking water quality.
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