Following the CAG Report on Drinking Water Quality, a whole-day review was done by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Railway Minister, CRB & CEO, and other senior officials, and immediate corrective measures have been ordered for Safe Drinking Water.

The CAG report on Indian Railways had revealed severe contamination, detecting harmful E. coli and total coliform bacteria in drinking water samples at multiple station coolers and taps. 

The audit also flagged widespread testing lapses and noted that nearly 89% of inspected non-suburban stations lacked basic prescribed passenger amenities.

Responding to this, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called for prompt initiatives to contain the problem of ‘severe contamination’ in drinking water provided by the Indian Railways at several railway sites to passengers. 

*Immediate Actions:*

▪ A new "Tank to Tap" Water Filtration System at ∼20,000 locations, including water coolers and a comprehensive water filtration and monitoring system, will be installed at approximately 20,000 points across the railway network

▪ Replacement of Water Tanks

▪ Strict compliance with the following:-

- Regular water quality testing at source and outlet points

- Centralized monitoring and accountability

- Scheduled cleaning and maintenance of storage tanks

This is a top priority area and will be monitored directly at the Board level. Progress and water quality reports will be published periodically to ensure transparency.

This action is part of a larger drive to address all CAG observations and improve the overall travel experience.