The Crossbill News Desk
A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of passenger amenities at non-suburban railway stations has found widespread gaps in basic facilities, with 458 of the 512 stations inspected lacking one or more Minimum Essential Amenities (MEAs). The audit also flagged delays in completing passenger amenity works and significant underutilisation of funds allocated for such facilities.
The findings are contained in the CAG’s report on passenger amenities and sanitation at non-suburban stations of Indian Railways, which was tabled in Parliament last week. The audit covered stations handling long-distance passenger traffic of at least 150 km and examined facilities across 16 railway zones.
Only 54 of the 512 stations audited, or around 11%, were found to have all the prescribed MEAs. The remaining 89% had deficiencies in at least one essential facility.
“Significant shortfalls were observed in the provision of MEAs at the selected 512 stations, particularly in respect of fans (42%), water coolers (40%), drinking water taps (27%), urinals (22%), seating arrangements (15%), platform shelters (13%), latrines (12%) and clocks (12%),” the report said.
The Railway Board’s April 2018 instructions require Minimum Essential Amenities to be provided at all stations irrespective of their category. These include drinking water, waiting halls, seating, platform shelters, urinals, latrines, high-level platforms, fans, foot over bridges, dustbins, clocks and public address systems.
The audit sample was drawn from 5,908 stations across 16 zones, which collectively operated 7,424 passenger trains daily and served 292.4 crore passengers in 2023-24. Of the 512 stations selected for detailed examination, 325 were outside the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
The CAG noted that the problems were not confined to a particular category of station or railway zone.
An analysis of Passenger Amenities Management System data from February 2025 confirmed that “deficiencies persisted across all station categories and Zones, indicating systemic gaps rather than isolated cases.”
The audit also found that the Railways had not prepared time-bound plans to address gaps in recommended and desirable passenger amenities.
“Audit further observed that no time bound actions were prepared for bridging gaps in recommended and desirable amenities, contrary to Railway Board instructions,” it said.
Accessibility for passengers with disabilities was another major concern. The report found substantial deficiencies in infrastructure and facilities required under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, including ramps, tactile pathways, toilets, lifts, information systems and announcements.
Only 44% of the audited stations had standard ramps with railings for barrier-free entry, while parking spaces were earmarked for persons with disabilities at 55% of stations.
Non-slippery walkways were available at just 32% of stations, while drinking water taps on alternate water booths on each platform were available at 58%. Wheelchairs were unavailable at 12 of the 512 stations.
Medical facilities for passengers were also found to be inadequate. Emergency medical rooms and medical boxes recommended by AIIMS were absent at a majority of the stations audited, raising concerns over the Railways’ preparedness to deal with medical emergencies.
Sanitation remained another weak area, with the audit pointing to non-functional toilets, inadequate pay-and-use facilities and unauthorised entry points that affected both cleanliness and passenger safety.
The CAG also examined 395 passenger amenity works undertaken between 2019-20 and 2023-24 and found that 59% had suffered delays ranging from one to four years. Only 41% of the works were completed within the prescribed timelines, leaving passengers without planned facilities for extended periods.
The audit found the implementation gaps particularly significant because they could not be attributed to a lack of funds. Budget grants meant for passenger amenities remained underutilised by 36% to 44% between 2019-20 and 2023-24, including during non-COVID years.
The report said this pattern highlighted “deficiencies in planning and execution rather than financial constraints.”
The findings therefore point not merely to shortages of facilities at individual stations, but to broader weaknesses in planning, implementation and monitoring of passenger amenities across the railway network.
The findings are contained in the CAG’s report on passenger amenities and sanitation at non-suburban stations of Indian Railways, which was tabled in Parliament last week. The audit covered stations handling long-distance passenger traffic of at least 150 km and examined facilities across 16 railway zones.
Only 54 of the 512 stations audited, or around 11%, were found to have all the prescribed MEAs. The remaining 89% had deficiencies in at least one essential facility.
“Significant shortfalls were observed in the provision of MEAs at the selected 512 stations, particularly in respect of fans (42%), water coolers (40%), drinking water taps (27%), urinals (22%), seating arrangements (15%), platform shelters (13%), latrines (12%) and clocks (12%),” the report said.
The Railway Board’s April 2018 instructions require Minimum Essential Amenities to be provided at all stations irrespective of their category. These include drinking water, waiting halls, seating, platform shelters, urinals, latrines, high-level platforms, fans, foot over bridges, dustbins, clocks and public address systems.
The audit sample was drawn from 5,908 stations across 16 zones, which collectively operated 7,424 passenger trains daily and served 292.4 crore passengers in 2023-24. Of the 512 stations selected for detailed examination, 325 were outside the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
The CAG noted that the problems were not confined to a particular category of station or railway zone.
An analysis of Passenger Amenities Management System data from February 2025 confirmed that “deficiencies persisted across all station categories and Zones, indicating systemic gaps rather than isolated cases.”
The audit also found that the Railways had not prepared time-bound plans to address gaps in recommended and desirable passenger amenities.
“Audit further observed that no time bound actions were prepared for bridging gaps in recommended and desirable amenities, contrary to Railway Board instructions,” it said.
Accessibility for passengers with disabilities was another major concern. The report found substantial deficiencies in infrastructure and facilities required under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, including ramps, tactile pathways, toilets, lifts, information systems and announcements.
Only 44% of the audited stations had standard ramps with railings for barrier-free entry, while parking spaces were earmarked for persons with disabilities at 55% of stations.
Non-slippery walkways were available at just 32% of stations, while drinking water taps on alternate water booths on each platform were available at 58%. Wheelchairs were unavailable at 12 of the 512 stations.
Medical facilities for passengers were also found to be inadequate. Emergency medical rooms and medical boxes recommended by AIIMS were absent at a majority of the stations audited, raising concerns over the Railways’ preparedness to deal with medical emergencies.
Sanitation remained another weak area, with the audit pointing to non-functional toilets, inadequate pay-and-use facilities and unauthorised entry points that affected both cleanliness and passenger safety.
The CAG also examined 395 passenger amenity works undertaken between 2019-20 and 2023-24 and found that 59% had suffered delays ranging from one to four years. Only 41% of the works were completed within the prescribed timelines, leaving passengers without planned facilities for extended periods.
The audit found the implementation gaps particularly significant because they could not be attributed to a lack of funds. Budget grants meant for passenger amenities remained underutilised by 36% to 44% between 2019-20 and 2023-24, including during non-COVID years.
The report said this pattern highlighted “deficiencies in planning and execution rather than financial constraints.”
The findings therefore point not merely to shortages of facilities at individual stations, but to broader weaknesses in planning, implementation and monitoring of passenger amenities across the railway network.
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