Gujarat’s key railway stations fall short on basic amenities: CAG report flags deficiencies in water availa

The findings are part of CAG’s report on passenger amenities and sanitation at non-suburban railway stations, which was tabled before the parliament on 12 August. The audit covered 512 stations across all 16 railway zones and found deficiencies in at least one Minimum Essential Amenity (MEA) at 458 stations, or nearly 89%.

Ahmedabad, an NSG-1 station earning about ₹933.10 crore annually and handling nearly 3.85 crore passengers, lacked prescribed drinking-water taps, seating and water coolers.

It was among only 10 high-earning/high-footfall stations nationally where MEA deficiencies were found. Surat, also NSG-1, earned around ₹728.25 crore and handled about 5.03 crore passengers, but lacked drinking-water taps and fans.

Rajkot, an NSG-2 station, was deficient in drinking-water taps, seating, platform shelters and water coolers, while Vadodara lacked drinking-water taps and fans.

CAG report tabled in parliament The Western Railway audit sample extended beyond these four stations to Mumbai Central, Valsad, Mahesana, Bharuch, Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Veraval and several others, classified from NSG-1 to NSG-6.