Eastern Railway to install 131 chlorination plants for safe drinking water
Synopsis
Eastern Railway is overhauling its entire drinking-water infrastructure — 131 new chlorination plants, nearly 7,000 tanks cleaned in five weeks, and clinical water testing replacing end-of-pipe checks. It is one of the most systematic water-safety pushes the zone has undertaken, and the accountability trail built into the action plan could set a benchmark for other railway zones.
Key Takeaways
Eastern Railway is installing 131 new chlorination plants across its station network to improve water quality.
A total of 6,955 water tanks were cleaned between 20 August and 23 September 2026 across all divisions and workshops.
Asansol Division led the cleaning drive with 2,449 tanks , followed by Howrah ( 2,123 ), Sealdah ( 1,464 ), and Malda ( 919 ).
Water-quality testing will now be conducted at the point of consumption, not just at the source, representing a shift in monitoring methodology.
Zonal railways must submit station-wise deficiency reports to ensure time-bound, accountable corrective action.
Eastern Railway (ER) has announced plans to set up 131 new chlorination plants across its station network to improve drinking-water quality for passengers, as part of a broader, railway-wide hygiene drive. The initiative, which also encompasses comprehensive water tank cleaning and clinical water-sample testing, signals a structural shift from reactive maintenance to systematic water-quality management.
Scale of the Cleaning Drive
Between 20 August and 23 September 2026, Eastern Railway cleaned a total of 6,955 water tanks — covering overhead tanks, underground reservoirs, and PVC tanks — across all divisions and workshops. The breakdown by division reveals the scale of the exercise: Asansol Division cleaned 2,449 tanks, Howrah Division attended to 2,123, Sealdah Division cleaned 1,464, and Malda cleared 919 tanks.
'All tanks underwent thorough cleaning and proper water treatment to ensure source reservoirs remain free from contamination for the supply of clean water,' an official said.
131 New Chlorination Plants Underway
Work on the 131 chlorination plants is already underway, according to officials. A special initiative has simultaneously been launched to clinically test water samples collected from taps at various stations, monitoring quality at the point of consumption rather than relying solely on end-of-pipe testing — a methodological upgrade that railway planners say will better reflect the actual water passengers drink.
What the Action Plan Covers
The Railway Board has directed zonal railways to undertake comprehensive inspections covering water sources, treatment and filtration plants, underground and overhead tanks, PVC tanks, water booths, taps, and water dispensing points. 'All drinking-water tanks will be drained, desludged, scrubbed and disinfected. Measures will also be taken to ensure tight covers and appropriate protection of vents and overflow points from birds, animals and algae,' the Railway Board stated.
Damaged tanks, pipelines, and filters are to be repaired or replaced as required. Critically, officials have been instructed to eliminate any cross-connection between potable and non-potable water systems, and all piping in the drinking-water circuit is being checked for leakages to prevent water wastage.
Hand Pumps and Borewells Under the Scanner
Special attention is being paid to stations that rely on hand pumps and borewells for drinking water. Zonal railways have been specifically directed to ensure these sources remain free from contamination — a historically neglected segment of railway water infrastructure.
Accountability and Monitoring Mechanism
Each zonal railway is required to submit station-wise details of deficiencies identified and corrective actions taken. This reporting mechanism, officials say, will enable systematic, time-bound resolution of gaps identified during the special drive — moving the exercise beyond a one-off campaign into a continuous compliance framework. How effectively these commitments translate into measurable improvements at the platform level will be watched closely in the months ahead.
Point of View
But its value depends entirely on whether non-compliance carries consequences. Past railway hygiene drives have generated impressive cleaning tallies without sustaining improvements between campaigns; the true measure of this push will be whether the chlorination plants are maintained and the testing regime institutionalised beyond the current drive window.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many chlorination plants is Eastern Railway installing?
Eastern Railway is setting up 131 new chlorination plants at stations as part of a railway-wide drive to improve drinking-water quality. Work on these plants is already underway, according to officials.
How many water tanks were cleaned by Eastern Railway and when?
A total of 6,955 water tanks — including overhead tanks, underground reservoirs, and PVC tanks — were cleaned between 20 August and 23 September 2026 across all Eastern Railway divisions and workshops.
Which Eastern Railway divisions cleaned the most water tanks?
Asansol Division led with 2,449 tanks cleaned, followed by Howrah Division with 2,123 , Sealdah Division with 1,464 , and Malda with 919 tanks.
What is different about the new water-quality testing approach?
Eastern Railway is now conducting clinical testing of water samples at the point of consumption — directly from taps at stations — rather than relying solely on end-of-pipe testing. This approach better reflects the actual quality of water passengers receive.
What oversight mechanism is in place to ensure the drive delivers results?
Each zonal railway has been directed to submit station-wise details of deficiencies identified and corrective actions taken. This reporting framework is designed to ensure systematic, time-bound resolution of water-infrastructure gaps discovered during the special drive.
