The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged violations of prescribed drinking water quality norms at railway stations after E. coli bacteria was detected in water cooler samples from eight stations across multiple railway zones.
The findings are part of the CAG’s report on passenger amenities and sanitation at non-suburban railway stations. The audit raised concerns over inadequate testing, irregular inspections and deficiencies in the monitoring of drinking water supplied to passengers.
E. coli was detected in samples collected from eight railway stations, including Coimbatore and Palakkad Junction in Southern Railway, Hyderabad in South Central Railway, four stations under Central Railway — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan and Lonavala — and Madhupur in Eastern Railway.
The audit found that drinking water quality checks were not being carried out as frequently as prescribed. It also noted shortcomings in testing for residual chlorine, bacteriological contamination and chemical parameters.
According to the report, samples collected from stations showed the presence of total coliform bacteria, including E. coli, while chlorine levels were also found to be either low or high at some locations. The CAG said several parameters prescribed under the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol were not tested.
The audit covered drinking water quality at railway stations across multiple zones. It found total coliform contamination, including E. coli, in samples collected from platform taps at 49 stations across eight railway zones in 2022-23 and at 56 stations across nine zones in 2023-24.
The CAG also found that bacteriological testing beyond total coliform analysis was unsatisfactory at eight stations across four zones in 2022-23 and 11 stations across five zones in 2023-24.
Chemical testing was another area of concern. According to the report, Health Inspectors did not conduct chemical tests of drinking water at 179 stations across 11 railway zones. At another 77 stations across six zones, testing was not conducted at the prescribed frequency.
As per the existing norms, drinking water at railway stations is required to be tested twice a year.
The Ministry of Railways told the CAG in September 2025 that action had been initiated on the shortcomings identified during the audit, including deficiencies in the frequency of water testing and unsatisfactory test results.
However, the CAG said repeated reports of poor water quality at different locations showed the need for a more effective system to ensure safe drinking water for passengers.
The auditor recommended strict compliance with prescribed inspection and testing protocols and comprehensive testing of drinking water across all parameters specified under the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol.
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