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The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) found that the Railway Ministry had framed several norms for passenger amenities at stations; however, zones failed to comply, leading to widespread discrepancies in services, including the presence of E. coli bacteria in drinking water from water coolers and unhygienic conditions in washrooms, among others. "Bacteriological analysis of drinking water was not carried out at 59 stations over six zones," the CAG said in its report -- Passenger amenities and sanitation at non-suburban railway stations in Indian Railways -- tabled in Parliament on August 12. "Water sample from water cooler was positive for E-coli at two stations (Coimbatore and Palakkad Junctions) in SR (Southern Railway), one station (Hyderabad) in SCR (South Central Railway), four stations (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan and Lonavala) in CR (Central Railway) and one station (Madhupur) in ER (Eastern Railway)," it added after studying ...
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has flagged delays in achieving the intended outcomes of enhancing operational safety in the Railways, noting that 20,304 safety-related railway works remained unfinished during the financial year 2024-25. The government's financial watchdog, which tabled its report in Parliament on Wednesday, provided an analytical review of the finances and accounts of the Indian Railways based on the audited accounts for the year ended March 2025. A press note highlighting the major findings of the audit said, "Over 20,304 safety-related works remain unfinished, indicating delays in achieving intended safety outcomes." Flagging another concerning area related to the Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK), a dedicated fund created for safety-related works, it said that the Indian Railways was supposed to contribute a large amount of its own resources to the RRSK but contributed much less than planned. "Railways contributed only a small fraction of the ..
Jindal Stainless said it has supplied 40 per cent of the total stainless steel requirement for India's first hydrogen-powered train, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. With this, India has joined a select group of countries with operational hydrogen-powered trains and marks an important step towards the adoption of clean and sustainable mobility in the railway sector. In a statement on Friday, the company said it has supplied about 40 per cent of the total stainless steel requirement for India's first hydrogen-powered train. "The premium austenitic stainless steel grade X5CrNi1810, exclusively supplied by Jindal Stainless' Jajpur and Hisar plants, has been used in the fabrication of the hydrogen train," the country's largest stainless steel player said. Jindal Stainless Managing Director Abhyuday Jindal said the future of mobility will be defined by advanced materials that make these technologies more efficient, durable and sustainable. The company said stainle
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday flagged off India's first hydrogen-powered train connecting Jind to Sonipat in Haryana from the railway station here. With this, India has joined a select group of countries that have operational hydrogen-powered trains and marks an important step towards the adoption of clean and sustainable mobility in the railway sector. The 89-km distance between Jind and Sonipat will be covered in two hours, with the train halting at 12 intermediate stations. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh and Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were among those present at the Jind railway station for the flagging off ceremony. The prime minister waved as the train, which also had many school children onboard, chugged off from the Jind railway station. Designed, engineered and integrated in India, the train has been developed using indigenous technology, reflecting the country's growing capabilities in advanced railway engineering. Th
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday jointly flagged off a new express train service between Puri and Koraput. The train was flagged off from Puri in the presence of state Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, MPs, MLAs and senior railway officials. Speaking on the occasion, Majhi described the launch of the train service as a historic moment for the state. "Today is a historic day for Puri and all of Odisha as a new train service has started from Srikhetra Puri to Sabar Srikhetra Koraput," he said, thanking Vaishnaw for introducing the service. The chief minister said Puri railway station was being redeveloped at a cost of Rs 184 crore to provide a better experience to pilgrims visiting the temple town from across the country. Majhi, who hails from Keonjhar district, also requested Vaishnaw to introduce a similar train service from north Odisha. Responding immediately, the railway minister announced that a new train connectin