Bengaluru: A month after Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) flagged gaps in the quality and availability of clean drinking water across India’s railway stations, South Western Railway zone has taken corrective steps to ensure passenger safety.CAG, in its report made public in August, pointed to inadequate basic passenger amenities, including drinking water, from 2019-20 to 2023-24 after assessing 31 stations in the state. It found that KSR-Bengaluru — the main travel hub — did not have water coolers for passengers. Yeshwantpur Junction was found to lack drinking water taps.Now, SWR has implemented a multistep process across Bengaluru, Hubballi and Mysuru divisions to carry out rigorous quality monitoring of drinking water. The measures include daily chlorine monitoring on residual chlorine levels at stations and colonies. It is carried out in coordination with the zone’s engineering department which will conduct regular chlorination at all water-supply installations.In water quality tests conducted across SWR for Sept 14-22 period, nearly 250 samples were declared fit as far as presence of residual chlorine and chemicals was concerned. However, 18 samples put through bacteriological analysis threw up mixed results, with 11 declared safe.As per the SWR plan, at the end of every month, its teams will collect water samples and get them tested in labs for rigorous cross-verification and microbiological safety assessment. Along with that, chemical samples are being collected and tested at prescribed intervals.If any water sample produces unsatisfactory results, immediate corrective action including cleaning, re-chlorination, and system rectification is executed with follow-up continuing until water quality is certified completely fit.“Continuous monitoring, regular testing and quality-control measures are being undertaken to ensure compliance with prescribed water quality standards and to safeguard the health and well-being of passengers and railway staff,” said Manjunath Kanamadi, chief public relations officer of SWR.In the CAG report released in Aug, Kengeri railway station in west Bengaluru was also found to have inadequate drinking water facilities. The audit further flagged deficiencies in washroom facilities at stations in Bangarapet, Davangere and Mandya as well.Water quality summary across SWR• Residual chlorine: 249/249 samples found fit• Bacteriological analysis: 11/18 samples found fit• Chemical analysis:30/32 found fitFor Sept 14-22 period
