India
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CAG finds E. coli in water coolers at eight stations
The Telegraph··17 Aug
A CAG report tabled on 12 August found E. coli in cooler samples at eight stations: Coimbatore, Palakkad Junction, Hyderabad, Madhupur, CSMT, Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan and Lonavala. The audit covered 512 non-suburban stations. Bacteriological analysis was skipped at 59 stations in six zones. Platform taps showed total coliforms at 49 stations in 2022-23 and 56 in 2023-24.
Prism
What It Means For You
- If you drink from a station cooler at CSMT, Kalyan, Lonavala, Bhiwandi Road, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Palakkad or Madhupur, CAG recorded E. coli in those cooler samples.
- Passengers at 59 stations in six zones can note that bacteriological analysis of drinking water was simply not carried out.
- Anyone using NSG-1 terminals can see the audit list missing taps, fans, coolers and signage even at the highest station grade.
What's Happening
- The CAG tabled its passenger-amenities audit in Parliament on 12 August 2026, covering 512 non-suburban stations.
- Water-cooler samples tested positive for E. coli at eight named stations across Southern, South Central, Central and Eastern Railways.
- The auditor said 458 stations, more than 89 percent of the sample, were short of Minimum Essential Amenities.
Scale Of The Network The Audit Sampled
- Indian Railways listed 5908 Non-Suburban Group stations and 292.4 crore non-suburban passengers in 2023-24.
- Besides E. coli in coolers, taps on platforms showed total coliforms at 49 stations in 2022-23 and 56 stations in 2023-24.
- CAG recommended compliance with inspection protocols and full-parameter testing, not coliform checks alone.
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