NEW DELHI: E. coli bacteria, some strains of which can cause food poisoning, diarrhoea and kidney failure, has been detected in drinking samples collected from water coolers at several railway stations, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.The CAG study assessed passenger services at 512 non-suburban grade railway stations across all Indian Railway zones.It found that water samples from coolers tested positive for E. coli at eight railway stations across four zones.“Water sample from water cooler was positive for E.coli at two stations (Coimbatore and Palakkad Junctions) in SR (Southern Railway), one station (Hyderabad) in SCR (South Central Railway), four stations (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan and Lonavala) in CR (Central Railway) and one station (Madhupur) in ER (Eastern Railway),” the report said, according to PTI.The audit also found that 458 of the 512 selected stations—more than 89%—were deficient in providing Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA). At these stations, MEAs were either not provided or were available below the prescribed norms.“In April 2018, RB (Railway Board) issued comprehensive instructions prescribing Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA), Recommended Amenities (RA) and Desirable Amenities (DA) for stations categorised as NSG 1 to NSG 6. RB stipulated that MEAs were to be ensured at all stations by 31 August 2018,” the report stated.“RB’s instructions (April 2018) mandated that MEAs be provided first at all stations, irrespective of category. These include drinking water, waiting halls, seating arrangements, platform shelters, urinals, latrines, high-level platforms, fans, Foot Over Bridges (FOBs), dustbins, clocks and public address systems,” it added.According to the CAG, Indian Railways has 5,908 stations under the Non-Suburban Group (NSG), while it operated more than 7,424 non-suburban passenger trains daily and carried 292.4 crore non-suburban passengers in 2023-24.Deficiencies were found even at NSG-1 stations such as CSMT and Mumbai Central (both in Mumbai), Howrah and Sealdah (both West Bengal) and New Delhi, including in seating arrangements, sanitary facilities such as urinals and latrines, dustbins and electronic train indicator boards.Explaining the rationale for the detailed inspection, the CAG noted that the Railway Board had issued various guidelines for providing passenger amenities at stations. The audit assessed whether the Railways’ efforts to provide passenger amenities and sanitation facilities were delivering the intended benefits.
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An analysis of the Passenger Amenities Management System also revealed shortfalls against MEA norms, including inadequate latrines at 201 stations, urinals at 403 stations and water taps at 2,035 stations, among other deficiencies.Among its key recommendations, the CAG urged the Railways to “ensure compliance with prescribed protocols for inspection of water supply systems and comprehensive testing of drinking water quality, including all parameters under the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol.”