Archive · 17 Aug 2026
CAG Flags Amenity Gaps at 89% of Indian Railway Stations
A big government office in India called the CAG checks whether things are working properly.
It looked at train stations all over India.
It found that most stations do not have enough basic things passengers need.
Things like drinking water, fans, toilets, seats, and trash bins were missing.
More than 89 out of every 100 stations checked had problems.
Even big, busy stations like Howrah and New Delhi had issues.
The rules for these facilities were made a long time ago, in 1952.
The rules were repeated in 2018, with a deadline of August 2018.
But many stations still did not follow them.
The CAG wants stations to fix these problems quickly and on time.
The CAG found 458 of 512 surveyed stations, over 89%, deficient in Minimum Essential Amenities.
Deficiencies included drinking water taps, fans, water coolers, toilets, seating, dustbins, signage and electronic train indicator boards.
Major terminals such as CSMT, Howrah, Sealdah, New Delhi and Mumbai Central were among the stations flagged.
Railway Board norms for basic amenities date to 1952 and were reiterated in April 2018, with a deadline of August 31, 2018.
Only 54 stations, less than 11%, had no shortfall; Gorakhpur Junction was the only NSG-1 station fully compliant.
- Who
- The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India audited Indian Railways' passenger amenities.
- What
- Found widespread deficiencies in basic passenger amenities at railway stations, with over 89% of surveyed stations falling short of Minimum Essential Amenities.
- When
- Audit covered the period 2019-20 to 2023-24.
- Where
- Railway stations across India, including CSMT, Mumbai Central, Howrah, Sealdah and New Delhi.
- Why
- To check compliance with Railway Board norms for basic passenger amenities prescribed since 1952 and reiterated in April 2018.
- Report
- Passenger Amenities and Sanitation at Non-Suburban Railway Stations in Indian Railways
- Stations surveyed
- 512
- Stations deficient in MEAs
- 458 (over 89%)
- Stations with no shortfall
- 54 (less than 11%)
- Audit period
- 2019-20 to 2023-24
- MEA deadline
- August 31, 2018
- Only fully compliant NSG-1 station
- Gorakhpur Junction
- Railway zones with compliant stations
- 13