Zonal Railways asked to inspect water infrastructure, test quality and fix station-wise deficiencies to ensure safe drinking water for passengers

Key Highlights

• Indian Railways launches a special drive covering drinking-water tanks, filters, coolers, taps and dispensing points.
• Tanks will be drained, desludged, scrubbed and disinfected during the campaign.
• Water quality testing to cover physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters at multiple points.
• Daily residual-chlorine monitoring and immediate corrective action mandated where required.
• Damaged tanks, pipelines and filters to be repaired or replaced.
• Zonal Railways to submit station-wise deficiencies and action taken for time-bound monitoring.
• Measures extended to railway colonies and workplaces in addition to passenger areas.

Railways steps up drinking-water safety at stations

New Delhi: Indian Railways has launched a special cleanliness and disinfection drive across its network to strengthen the availability of safe and hygienic drinking water for passengers at railway stations.

The initiative focuses on preventive inspection and maintenance of the entire drinking-water supply chain, from water sources and treatment facilities to storage tanks, coolers, taps and points of consumption.

The Railway Board has advised Zonal Railways to undertake comprehensive inspections and ensure that deficiencies identified during the drive are rectified in a time-bound manner.

Drinking-water tanks to undergo comprehensive cleaning

As part of the drive, Zonal Railways will inspect water sources, treatment and filtration plants, underground and overhead tanks, PVC tanks, water booths, taps and dispensing points.

Drinking-water tanks will be drained, desludged, scrubbed and disinfected.

Railways will also ensure that tank covers are properly secured and that vents and overflow points are protected from contamination by birds, animals and algae.

Damaged tanks, pipelines and filtration systems will be repaired or replaced wherever necessary.

The infrastructure will also be checked to prevent any cross-connection between potable and non-potable water systems, while pipelines will be inspected for leaks to prevent water wastage.

Water quality testing to move beyond end-point checks

A key element of the action plan is a shift towards more comprehensive water-quality management.

Instead of relying only on testing water at the final point of supply, Railways will undertake testing at different stages, including the source, post-treatment outlets, storage tanks, water coolers, vending machines and representative taps or booths, wherever feasible.

Physical, chemical and bacteriological tests will be conducted at identified locations.

Daily monitoring of residual chlorine will also be undertaken, with re-chlorination or other corrective measures initiated immediately wherever required.

Water coolers and purification systems under inspection

The special drive also covers water coolers and purification systems installed at stations.

Railways will clean water-cooler tanks, address leakages in coolers, pipelines and taps, and maintain hygiene around dispensing areas.

UV and RO purification systems will be checked for proper functioning and installed where required.

Scheduled servicing, maintenance and replacement of filter candles and other components will also be undertaken. Replacement or installation of new purification systems will be taken up based on condition and requirements.

Similar cleaning and quality-control measures will apply to Water Vending Machines to ensure that water dispensed through these facilities meets prescribed hygiene and safety standards.

Borewells and hand pumps also included

Special attention will be given to stations and locations where drinking water is sourced through hand pumps and borewells.

Zonal Railways have been asked to ensure that water extracted through these systems remains free from contamination and is suitable for potable use.

Station-wise deficiencies to be monitored

The Railway Board has also directed Zonal Railways to expedite already sanctioned works involving the construction and replacement of overhead and underground water tanks.

Details of sanctioned works will be compiled, while fresh sanctions will be processed wherever additional infrastructure is required.

Railways is also working on suitable filtration and purification solutions for different points in the supply chain, including at-source and at-tap filtration, to identify and prevent contamination before water reaches passengers.

Zonal Railways will submit station-wise details of deficiencies identified and corrective action taken, creating a monitoring mechanism for tracking progress and ensuring that problems identified during inspections are addressed.

Initiative extends to railway colonies and workplaces

The drinking-water action plan is not limited to passenger facilities.

Similar measures will also be undertaken at Railway colonies and workplaces, extending the focus on water quality and hygiene to railway personnel.

Impact on hospitality, food and travel

Safe drinking water is an important component of the overall passenger experience, particularly at railway stations that serve large volumes of domestic and international travellers.

For the travel industry, improvements in station water infrastructure can contribute to greater passenger confidence in railway facilities, particularly during long-distance journeys and at major tourism gateways.

The initiative also has relevance for railway catering and foodservice operations. Better monitoring of potable-water systems can support hygiene standards in areas where water is used for food preparation, beverage service and cleaning.

Better station experience for tourists

Railway stations are often the first point of arrival for travellers visiting major destinations. Cleaner and better-maintained drinking-water facilities can therefore form part of a broader improvement in station amenities and tourist experience.

For hospitality businesses located around railway hubs, improved passenger infrastructure can also contribute to a more positive overall travel environment.

The focus on preventive maintenance, water testing and station-wise accountability represents a move towards more systematic management of one of the most basic passenger amenities—access to clean and safe drinking water.

For India’s growing domestic tourism and rail travel ecosystem, such improvements can strengthen the passenger experience while supporting higher standards of travel, foodservice and public-facing hospitality infrastructure.