A Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) audit has raised concerns over the quality of drinking water available at railway stations after E. coli was detected in water cooler samples at eight stations across four railway zones.

The stations identified were Coimbatore and Palakkad Junction in Southern Railway, Hyderabad in South Central Railway, four stations under Central Railway — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan and Lonavala — and Madhupur in Eastern Railway.

The findings are part of the CAG's audit of passenger amenities and sanitation at non-suburban railway stations.

What the CAG Audit Found

The audit covered 512 non-suburban railway stations across the Indian Railways network. It found that drinking water quality monitoring was not being carried out consistently according to prescribed norms.

Water samples collected from platform taps showed the presence of total coliform bacteria, including E. coli, at 49 stations across eight railway zones during 2022-23 and 56 stations across nine zones during 2023-24.

The CAG also found that bacteriological analysis of drinking water was not conducted at 59 stations across six zones. The findings point to gaps not only in treatment but also in routine testing and monitoring.

Why E. Coli in Water Matters

E. coli is commonly used as an indicator of faecal contamination. Its presence in drinking water signals that the water may have been contaminated and requires investigation.

Indian Railways' own drinking-water standards state that E. coli or thermotolerant coliform bacteria should not be detectable in any 100 ml sample. The Railway Board's standards also call for immediate investigative action when E. coli is detected.

Some strains of E. coli can cause diarrhoea and food poisoning, while severe infections can lead to serious complications.

The findings do not mean that all railway drinking water is contaminated. They identify specific samples and wider monitoring deficiencies that Railways needs to address.

Railways Plans 20,000-Location Upgrade

Following the concerns highlighted by the CAG, Indian Railways has announced a major overhaul of its drinking-water system.

Around 20,000 locations, including water coolers, are proposed to receive a new “Tank to Tap” Water Filtration System along with comprehensive filtration and monitoring arrangements. The move followed a review by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after the CAG findings.

The objective is to strengthen the process from water storage through filtration to the point where passengers access drinking water.

Testing Gaps Need Attention

The CAG findings also highlight a basic issue: having a water-treatment system is not enough unless the water is regularly tested.

Railway guidelines already provide for bacteriological testing and prescribe parameters including E. coli, total coliforms, pH, turbidity, hardness, iron, arsenic, fluoride and nitrate. However, the audit found instances where prescribed testing was not carried out.

The new filtration programme therefore needs to be accompanied by regular laboratory testing, maintenance of filtration equipment and transparent monitoring.

What Passengers Should Do

Passengers can take a few simple precautions, particularly when travelling during long journeys or at crowded stations.

If the source looks dirty, has an unusual smell or taste, or appears poorly maintained, passengers should avoid drinking directly from it. Carrying a sealed bottle of drinking water can provide an alternative.

Packaged drinking water should be checked for an intact seal and proper labelling. Railways has previously stated that Rail Neer and other approved packaged drinking-water brands are permitted for sale in its network.

Passengers should also avoid assuming that clear-looking water is automatically safe, since microbial contamination may not be visible.

Report Unsafe Water

Passengers who notice visibly contaminated water, unhygienic coolers or other sanitation problems can report the issue to railway authorities rather than continuing to use the source.

The RailMadad system provides passengers with a mechanism to raise railway-related grievances through multiple channels, including the 139 helpline.

The CAG findings underline the need for stronger preventive monitoring, while the proposed 20,000-location filtration upgrade could provide a significant opportunity to improve drinking-water safety across the railway network.