Central Railway has begun special inspections of drinking-water systems at stations and trains after observations by the Comptroller and Auditor General, while planning to install tank-to-tap filtration systems at about 20,000 locations across the railway network.
The measures cover water supplied at stations, depots and other passenger-related facilities. Central Railway said water samples collected at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Kalyan, Bhiwandi Road and Lonavala stations were found to be safe during the latest inspection campaign.
The railway administration said the samples underwent physical, chemical and bacteriological testing. It added that all samples from the four stations were satisfactory and that no bacterial contamination, including E. coli, was detected. The tests followed observations recorded by the CAG in 2023-24 regarding drinking water at these locations.
The inspections and corrective measures were initiated after Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw directed the Railway Board to review water-supply, filtration, testing and monitoring systems across Indian Railways. The review has led to instructions for immediate improvements in the systems used to provide and monitor drinking water.
As part of the planned upgrades, tank-to-tap filtration systems will be installed at approximately 20,000 locations on the railway network. Monitoring equipment will also be installed on water coolers to track water quality. Old and deteriorated storage tanks are scheduled to be replaced in phases.
The measures address several points in the railway water-supply chain, from storage and filtration to testing and delivery to passengers. The proposed tank-to-tap system is intended to strengthen filtration between storage tanks and taps, while water-cooler monitoring is expected to provide an additional point of quality control.
Central Railway has not provided, in the supplied report, a station-wise schedule for installing the filtration systems or replacing storage tanks. The report also does not specify the total financial allocation for the programme or the number of facilities covered within the Central Railway zone.
The Railway Board will monitor implementation of the measures, according to Central Railway. The administration also said reports on water quality would be released periodically as the inspection and improvement programme continues.
