Now Reading: CAG finds 90% of railway stations lack basic amenities
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CAG finds 90% of railway stations lack basic amenities
The Comptroller and Auditor General's compliance audit of 512 non-suburban railway stations for 2023-24 has found that 90 percent are deficient in essential amenities such as drinking water, seating, toilets, shelters, fans, and signage. The audit covered stations more than a year after the launch of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and was released just before a 'Station Mahotsav' was announced at 103 locations.
Even high-revenue, high-footfall stations showed persistent shortcomings. Water from taps at dozens of stations was found contaminated with E-coli bacteria. Nearly 300 crore journeys were logged through India's 5,908 non-suburban stations in 2023-24, underscoring the scale of the upgrade required.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The CAG audit exposes a gap between the government's station beautification push and basic passenger needs. With nearly 300 crore annual journeys, even a small percentage of deficient stations affects millions. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, meant to modernise 1,275 stations, has not yet translated into consistent essentials. The next test will be whether the Railway Ministry acts on the audit's findings before the next parliamentary session or the 'Station Mahotsav' becomes a distraction from core repairs.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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