The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised serious concerns over the cleanliness of Indian Railways’ long-distance trains, highlighting persistent gaps in sanitation despite existing complaint redressal mechanisms. According to its performance audit titled “Cleanliness and Sanitation in Long Distance Trains” covering 2018-19 to 2022-23, the audit found widespread passenger dissatisfaction. More than 40% of passengers expressed unhappiness with toilet cleanliness, while over half reported poor experiences with On-Board Housekeeping Services (OBHS). These findings are based on a feedback survey of 2,426 travellers across 96 trains in 16 zones. Although 89% of toilet-related complaints were resolved on time, systemic shortcomings such as inadequate manpower, shortage of cleaning tools, and irregular inspections continue to undermine hygiene standards.
CAG Flags Bio-Toilet Misuse and Chronic Water Shortages in Long-Distance Trains
The audit revealed that bio-toilets in air-conditioned coaches were relatively better maintained than those in sleeper or non-AC compartments. However, dissatisfaction still exceeded 50% in zones such as East Coast, Western, and Eastern Railways. In contrast, Northern and North Central Railways fared better, recording satisfaction levels of above 90%. Passenger behaviour was flagged as another major challenge, with improper use of bio-toilets and non-availability of water aggravating filth, especially in washbasin areas. The CAG has recommended awareness drives to educate travellers on proper toilet use, particularly in zones reporting recurring misuse.
A shortage of water supply in toilets and washbasins emerged as another chronic issue. Nearly 15% of surveyed passengers reported the problem, while over one lakh complaints regarding lack of water were filed on the Rail Madad app in 2022-23 alone. The CAG urged the Railways to arrange for enroute refilling of coaches, especially during long journeys and at stations with consistently high complaint volumes.
CAG Slams Poor Housekeeping, Lax Cleaning Standards and Safety Gaps in Railways
Joint inspections of OBHS services on 15 trains revealed deficiencies in 13, including dirty lavatories in sleeper classes, clogged washbasins, waterlogging in toilets, and unhygienic vestibules. The Clean Train Stations (CTS) initiative, designed for mechanised cleaning at designated halts, also fell short. Visits to 29 CTS units in 12 zones exposed partial cleaning, inadequate manpower, and poor use of cleaning machines. Officials were blamed for failing to enforce contractual obligations.
The audit further flagged lapses in personnel verification, noting that several zones did not follow police verification norms for contractual workers. This oversight raises safety concerns, especially given past crimes such as the rape of a passenger by an attendant on the Delhi-Ahmedabad Rajdhani Express.
Summary:
The CAG audit exposes poor sanitation in Indian Railways’ long-distance trains, with over 40% dissatisfied with toilet cleanliness and half unhappy with housekeeping. Issues include water shortages, bio-toilet misuse, inadequate manpower, and lax inspections. Mechanised cleaning schemes underperformed, and safety lapses in worker verification raised further concerns.
