Indian Railways has launched a special cleanliness drive across its entire network, targeting the cleaning, disinfection, and quality testing of drinking-water infrastructure at railway stations, according to an official statement issued on Monday, 24 August. The initiative forms part of a broader action plan to strengthen drinking-water quality management and ensure safe, potable water for passengers travelling across the country.

Scope of the Drive

Under the drive, Zonal Railways will carry out 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. Steps will also be taken to ensure tanks have tight covers with adequate protection of vents and overflow points against birds, animals, and algae growth.

Damaged tanks, pipelines, and filters will be repaired or replaced as required. Crucially, the drive mandates that there be no cross-connection between potable and non-potable water systems — a safeguard that addresses one of the most common sources of contamination in large distribution networks. All piping within the drinking-water circuit will be checked for leakages to prevent water wastage.

Focus on Water Coolers and Purification Systems

The Railway Board has specifically directed Zonal Railways to inspect water coolers and purification systems. Tanks inside coolers will be thoroughly cleaned, leakages in coolers, pipelines, and taps addressed promptly, and full hygiene maintained around water-cooler dispensing areas. UV/RO purification systems will be checked for proper functioning and installed wherever not yet available. Scheduled maintenance, servicing, overhauling, and timely replacement of filter candles and other components will be carried out. New or replacement UV/RO systems will be taken up on a mission-mode basis based on condition and requirement.

The same hygiene and purification standards will apply to water vending machines across stations, ensuring that water dispensed through such facilities meets prescribed safety benchmarks.

Quality Testing and Monitoring

Officials will conduct physical, chemical, and bacteriological testing of water samples from identified locations — including sources, post-treatment outlets, tanks, coolers, vending machines, and representative taps or booths. Daily residual-chlorine monitoring will be undertaken, with immediate re-chlorination or other corrective action wherever levels fall short. The emphasis on testing at both the source and the point of consumption — rather than relying solely on end-of-pipe testing — marks a notable shift in the Railways' quality-assurance approach.

Special attention has been directed toward locations using hand pumps and borewells for drinking water extraction, with Zonal Railways required to ensure such sources remain free from contamination.

Infrastructure Upgrades and Accountability

The Railway Board has directed Zonal Railways to monitor and expedite works already sanctioned for the replacement and construction of new overhead and underground tanks. A summary of these sanctioned works will be prepared, and fresh sanctions processed wherever required. Zonal Railways will submit station-wise details of deficiencies identified and corrective actions taken, enabling systematic, time-bound monitoring of outcomes.

The action plan extends beyond passenger areas, encompassing drinking-water infrastructure in Railway colonies and workplaces as well. With Indian Railways serving millions of passengers daily, the drive's success will ultimately be measured by whether its station-level monitoring translates into sustained improvements — not just a one-time inspection cycle.