Safe Drinking Water Drive: North Eastern Railway Responds to CAG Audit!
The North Eastern Railway has officially launched a massive campaign to ensure the supply of pure drinking water across its entire network. This comprehensive initiative, which began on September 23, 2026, is a direct response to a critical audit conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.
The CAG Audit: Identifying Major Gaps
The audit report, originally dated August 5, 2026, and presented to Parliament on August 12, 2026, revealed serious deficiencies in passenger amenities. Most notably, the report found that nearly 90% of non-suburban railway stations were lacking sufficient drinking water facilities. The findings specifically highlighted failures in maintaining proper residual chlorine levels, alongside inadequate testing for chemical and bacteriological safety.
High-Level Directives for Immediate Action
In the wake of these findings, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar and other top officials, conducted an intensive high-level review. This led to a series of urgent directives to fix the systemic issues. On August 27, 2026, Chairman Satish Kumar issued nationwide guidelines, ordering all zonal railways to implement water safety protocols on a war-footing.
Comprehensive Overhaul of the Water Supply Chain
The North Eastern Railway's current mission, which is placing significant emphasis on major hubs like Gorakhpur, involves a complete overhaul of how water is managed and delivered. The corrective measures include:
- Systematic Cleaning: Thorough disinfection of underground and overhead tanks, as well as PVC tanks.
- Infrastructure Maintenance: Cleaning of water booths and distribution centers.
- Equipment Upgrades: The repair or total replacement of damaged filters, RO systems, and pipelines.
A Nationwide Push for Water Purity
This movement is part of a broader effort seen across various railway divisions to strengthen water quality. Other regions have already initiated similar actions:
- North Western Railway: Commenced its tank cleaning operations on August 17, 2026.
- Central Railway: Started its campaign to strengthen water quality on September 20, 2026.
- Delhi Division: Launched its own dedicated purity drive on September 22, 2026.
To ensure these improvements are permanent, health inspectors have been assigned the critical task of continuous monitoring. They are responsible for checking water quality directly at the source to guarantee that all safety standards are strictly met.