Lok Sabha Question No. 1167 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Supply of Drinking Water
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: DEVUSINH JESINGBHAI CHAUHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1167 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## SUPPLY OF DRINKING WATER

1167. SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  details  of  the  various  provisions  made  at  the  railway stations for supply of drinking water to the passengers especially in the State of Gujarat;
- (b) whether the Railways are able to meet the demand of drinking water at railway stations and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the Railways proposes to install water vending  machines  at  railway  stations  so  as  to  provide  potable water at an affordable cost especially in the context of the State of Gujarat; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof including the number of machines likely to be installed and estimated cost along with the employment likely to be generated as a result thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) & (b) It is Railways' endeavour to provide free potable water at all Railway Stations.  Indian Railways have more than 8500 railway stations  spread  over  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  country  and adequate  arrangements  have  been  made  to  provide  free  potable water at all Railway Stations to meet the demand of drinking water at these railway stations including the railway stations in Gujarat. Railways  are  using  various  sources  of  water  like  bore-well,  hand pumps municipal supply, tankers, river/dams etc.

(c) & (d) Guidelines have been issued for installation and operation of Water Vending Machines by Indian Railway Catering Corporation (IRCTC)  to  provide  purified,  chilled  and  clean  drinking  water  to Railway Passengers at affordable prices of  i.e  300ml  @ 1/-  and one litre @ 5/-. In total there are 61 contracts in operation for installation of approximately 2700 Water Vending Machines throughout the country  including  the  State  of  Gujarat,  out  of  which  nearly  1850 Nos. of Water Vending Machines have been installed till 30.06.2018 and  the  likely  employment  generation  is  estimated  to  be  around 3700 persons @ 2 persons per machine. IRCTC  has  executed  tenders  over  Bhavnagar,  Vadodara, Ahmedabad,  Rajkot  and  Mumbai  Central  Divisions  of  Western Railway falling in the State of Gujarat, for installation and operation of Water Vending Machines. In  the  State  of  Gujarat,  total  number  of  80  Water  Vending Machines are operational over 30 Railway Stations as per the list Appended. Further  07  Nos.  of  Water  Vending  Machines  are  under installation and are likely to be operational by August 2018.

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APPENDIX  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  AND  (d)  OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.1167  BY  SHRI  DEVUSINH  CHAUHAN TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  25.07.2018  REGARDING SUPPLY OF DRINKING WATER

| Details of Water Vending Machines installed over the Railway   | Details of Water Vending Machines installed over the Railway   | Details of Water Vending Machines installed over the Railway   | Details of Water Vending Machines installed over the Railway   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| S.No.                                                          | Name of Station                                                | Western Railway                                                | No. of machines installed                                      |
| 1.                                                             | Bhavnagar Terminus                                             | Bhavnagar Division                                             | 2                                                              |
| 2.                                                             | Junagarh                                                       | Bhavnagar Division                                             | 2                                                              |
| 3.                                                             | Botad                                                          | Bhavnagar Division                                             | 1                                                              |
| 4.                                                             | Porbandar                                                      | Bhavnagar Division                                             | 2                                                              |
| 5.                                                             | Gondal                                                         | Bhavnagar Division                                             | 1                                                              |
| 6.                                                             | Vadodara                                                       | Vadodara Division                                              | 9                                                              |
| 7.                                                             | Ankleshwar                                                     | Vadodara Division                                              | 2                                                              |
| 8.                                                             | Anand                                                          | Vadodara Division                                              | 4                                                              |
| 9.                                                             | Bharuch                                                        | Vadodara Division                                              | 3                                                              |
| 10.                                                            | Veraval                                                        | Vadodara Division                                              | 2                                                              |
| 11.                                                            | Nadiad                                                         | Vadodara Division                                              | 3                                                              |
| 12.                                                            | Ahmedabad                                                      | Ahmedabad Division                                             | 10                                                             |
| 13.                                                            | Palanpur                                                       | Ahmedabad Division                                             | 2                                                              |
| 14.                                                            | Mahesana                                                       | Ahmedabad Division                                             | 3                                                              |
| 15.                                                            | Viramgam                                                       | Ahmedabad Division                                             | 3                                                              |
| 16.                                                            | Gandhidham                                                     | Ahmedabad Division                                             | 1                                                              |
| 17.                                                            | Bhachau                                                        | Ahmedabad Division                                             | 1                                                              |
| 18.                                                            | Samakhayali                                                    | Ahmedabad Division                                             | 1                                                              |
| 19.                                                            | New Bhuj                                                       | Ahmedabad Division                                             | 1                                                              |
| 20.                                                            | Rajkot                                                         | Rajkot Division                                                | 3                                                              |
| 21.                                                            | Jamnagar                                                       | Rajkot Division                                                | 2                                                              |
| 22.                                                            | Surendranagar                                                  | Rajkot Division                                                | 2                                                              |
| 23.                                                            | Dwarka                                                         | Rajkot Division                                                | 1                                                              |
| 24.                                                            | Wankaner                                                       | Rajkot Division                                                | 2                                                              |
| 25.                                                            | Okha                                                           | Rajkot Division                                                | 1                                                              |
| 26.                                                            | Hapa                                                           | Rajkot Division                                                | 2                                                              |
| 27.                                                            | Surat                                                          | BCT Division                                                   | 9                                                              |
| 28.                                                            | Navsari                                                        | BCT Division                                                   | 2                                                              |
| 29.                                                            | Udhana                                                         | BCT Division                                                   | 2                                                              |
| 30.                                                            | Udwada                                                         | BCT Division                                                   | 1                                                              |
| TOTAL                                                          | TOTAL                                                          | TOTAL                                                          | 80                                                             |

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