CAG Audit Flags Severe Gaps in Railway Amenities
Subject: GS ll-Polity & Governance
Context
A comprehensive performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) assessing passenger amenities and sanitation across 512 railway stations has revealed alarming infrastructural gaps. With 89% of audited stations lacking one or more essential amenities, the findings expose deep-seated systemic flaws in financial execution, resource utilisation, and public service delivery within Indian Railways.
Key Findings of the CAG Audit
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Widespread Infrastructural Deficiencies:
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Out of 512 non-suburban stations handling long-distance traffic (minimum 150 km), 458 stations exhibited severe shortfalls in basic amenities. Only 54 stations (11%) met all minimum essential standards.
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Prominent gaps included missing or non-functional fans (42%), water coolers (40%), drinking-water taps (27%), urinals (22%), seating arrangements (15%), platform shelters (13%), latrines (12%), and clocks (12%).
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Chronic Underutilisation of Budget Grants:
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While budgetary allocations witnessed a sharp upward revision—climbing from roughly ₹3,207 crore (2019–20) and ₹3,351 crore (2022–23) to an expansive ₹14,072 crore in 2023–24—utilization capacity remained severely constrained.
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Unutilised funds hovered persistently between 36% and 44% annually, reaching a staggering ₹5,956 crore (42%) unutilised in 2023–24, highlighting weak execution capacity rather than a mere shortage of resources.
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Exclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs):
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Accessibility infrastructure for Divyangjan was found largely non-compliant. Critical elements—such as ramps, tactile pathways, accessible toilets, functional lifts, and inclusive public information systems—were either absent or dilapidated, severely restricting independent mobility.
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Contextualising the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS)
A majority of the audited stations (325 out of 512) fell outside the purview of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, a targeted modernization initiative launched by the Ministry of Railways in December 2022.
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Mandate: ABSS aims to structurally redevelop over 1,300 railway stations into vibrant, modern multi-modal transport hubs.
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Core Pillars:
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Customised Architecture: Fusing modern passenger amenities with local cultural and heritage themes.
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Passenger Convenience: Upgrading concourses, waiting areas, escalators, free Wi-Fi, executive lounges, and advanced passenger information systems.
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Universal Accessibility: Implementing inclusive design features aligned with the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign).
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Economic Hubs: Integrating local identity through the ‘One Station One Product’ initiative to support artisans, weavers, and regional handicrafts.
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Conclusion and Way Forward
The CAG audit underscores that capital expenditure injections alone cannot resolve infrastructural backlogs without parallel administrative reforms. To bridge the gap between grand modernization blueprints (like ABSS) and ground reality, Indian Railways must:
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Establish Station-Wise, Time-Bound Action Plans: Systematically rectify missing foundational amenities like drinking water and sanitation facilities.
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Enhance Execution Capacity: Address chronic fund underutilisation through rigorous project monitoring and decentralised administrative accountability.
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Institutionalize Universal Audits: Ensure that accessibility for PwDs is treated as a mandatory compliance metric rather than an optional add-on in all future station modernizations.
