NEW DELHI — In a major initiative to bolster public hygiene and passenger amenities, Indian Railways has announced a comprehensive network-wide special cleanliness drive aimed at the thorough cleaning, desludging, and disinfection of drinking-water infrastructure across all railway stations.
The mandate requires all Zonal Railways to execute rigorous physical inspections, immediate maintenance, and multi-point water quality testing spanning treatment plants to end-use taps.
Key Action Items & System Upgrades
The Railway Board’s directive targets the systematic overhaul and hygienic maintenance of all drinking-water supply chains across passenger terminals, workplaces, and railway colonies.
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Tank & Storage Maintenance:
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Complete draining, scrubbing, desludging, and disinfection of all underground, overhead, and PVC storage tanks.
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Structural repairs to prevent leakage and cross-contamination between potable and non-potable lines.
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Installation of protective covers and animal/bird guards on all vents and overflow pipes.
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Purification & Vending Systems:
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Mandatory functional checks, timely candle replacements, and overhauling of all UV/RO water purification systems.
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Mission-mode procurement and installation of new filtration units where existing systems are outdated.
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Enforced 100% hygiene and daily cleaning standards around water coolers and Water Vending Machines (WVMs).
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Water Quality Assurance & Monitoring:
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Multi-stage physical, chemical, and bacteriological sample testing at water sources, treatment outlets, storage units, and distribution taps.
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Daily monitoring of residual chlorine levels, with immediate re-chlorination mandated for substandard readings.
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Station-wise deficiency tracking and submission of time-bound corrective action reports by Zonal Railways.
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The special drive also extends strict sanitation protocols to local borewells, hand pumps, and residential railway colonies to ensure uniform water safety standards across the national rail network.
