Chennai, Aug 17:
E. coli bacteria were detected in drinking water samples from water coolers at eight railway stations, including Coimbatore and Palakkad Junction, while widespread deficiencies in passenger amenities and sanitation were flagged in a CAG audit of Indian Railways.
According to the Comptroller and Auditor General report, water cooler samples tested positive for E. coli at Coimbatore and Palakkad Junctions in Southern Railway, Hyderabad in South Central Railway, four stations in Central Railway — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan and Lonavala — and Madhupur in Eastern Railway.
The audit also found total coliform bacteria, including E. coli, in drinking water samples collected from platform taps at 49 stations in eight railway zones during 2022-23 and at 56 stations across nine zones during 2023-24.
The CAG noted that some strains of E. coli can cause food poisoning and diarrhoea and, in severe cases, kidney failure. Bacteriological testing beyond total coliforms was found unsatisfactory at eight stations in four zones in 2022-23 and 11 stations in five zones in 2023-24.
The audit covered passenger services at 512 non-suburban stations across railway zones and examined instances identified during test audits from 2019-20 to 2023-24, along with certain earlier and subsequent cases.
Over 89% stations deficient in basic amenities
The audit found that 458 of the 512 stations examined — more than 89 per cent — were deficient in Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA). These amenities were either unavailable or provided below prescribed norms.
The Railway Board had in April 2018 directed that MEAs, including drinking water, waiting halls, seating, platform shelters, toilets, high-level platforms, fans, foot overbridges, dustbins, clocks and public address systems, be provided at all stations by August 31, 2018.
Even major NSG-1 stations such as CSMT, Howrah, Sealdah, New Delhi and Mumbai Central were found lacking in facilities including seating, sanitary amenities, dustbins and electronic train indicator boards.
The CAG identified shortages of latrines at 201 stations, urinals at 403 stations and water taps at 2,035 stations. Among NSG-1 stations, drinking water taps were deficient at 12 stations, while fans and water coolers were deficient at eight stations each.
The CAG recommended that the Railways strictly follow prescribed protocols for inspecting water supply systems and conduct comprehensive drinking water quality tests covering all parameters under the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol.