Lok Sabha Question No. 319 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-27
Subject: Water Vending Machines (WVMs) in Railway Stations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 319 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.11.2024

## WATER VENDING MACHINES (WVMS) IN RAILWAY STATIONS

319  SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  received  complaints  for  inadequate supply  of  drinking  water  at  the  Railway  Stations  across  the  country during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  zone-wise  along  with  the  action  taken thereon;
- (c) the number of Water Vending Machines (WVMs) installed at Railway Stations  to  provide  potable  water  at  affordable  cost  across  the country, the estimated cost of installation of such WVMs, zone-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has also received complaints of contaminated potable water supplied at Railway Stations across the country during the said period;
- (e) if so, the details thereof, zone-wise and the reasons therefor along with the action taken thereon; and
- (f) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide adequate safe drinking water at affordable rates to passengers at the Railway Stations in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

(a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 319 BY SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE TO BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  27.11.2024  REGARDING  WATER VENDING MACHINES (WVMS) IN RAILWAY STATIONS

(a) to (f) It is Railway's endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations over Indian Railways.

To  ensure  the  quality  of  drinking  water  being  made  available  at  the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken. Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended promptly.

Complaints regarding deficiency in services including water supply are received through various channels viz. public complaints, web portals, social  media,  etc.  These  complaints  are  received  at  various  levels including  Railway  Board,  Zonal  Railways,  Division  Office,  etc.  The complaints so received are forwarded to concerned wings of Railway and necessary action is taken to check and address the complaint. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, centralized compendium  of these is not maintained.

The zone-wise details of the Water Vending Machines (WVMs) installed over Indian Railways are annexed. In addition to installation of Water Vending  Machines  at  stations,  Indian  Railways  provide  safe  and affordable  Packaged  Drinking  Water  bottles  'Rail  Neer',  which  are approved by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), in trains and at stations. Approximately 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer Packaged Drinking Water is being  supplied  per  day  to  the  travelling  passengers  in  trains  and  at stations across Indian Railways.

*****

## Zone-wise  details  of  Water  Vending  Machines  (WVMs)  installed  over Indian Railways

| Railway Zone               |   Number of Water Vending Machines (WVMs) installed |
|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Central Railway            |                                                  71 |
| Eastern Railway            |                                                  24 |
| East Coast Railway         |                                                  47 |
| East Central Railway       |                                                 203 |
| Northern Railway           |                                                  84 |
| North Eastern Railway      |                                                  53 |
| North Central Railway      |                                                  86 |
| Northeast Frontier Railway |                                                  51 |
| North Western Railway      |                                                  45 |
| Southern Railway           |                                                  58 |
| South Central Railway      |                                                  76 |
| South East Central Railway |                                                   8 |
| South Western Railway      |                                                  22 |
| South Eastern Railway      |                                                  41 |
| Western Railway            |                                                  45 |
| West Central Railway       |                                                  40 |
| Total                      |                                                 954 |

*****