The Public Accounts Committee has criticized the Indian Railways for failing to address long-standing deficiencies in passenger amenities despite repeated audit recommendations.
Reader brief
Through the Reader lens: The Public Accounts Committee, led by K.C. Venugopal, expressed concern over persistent failures by the Indian Railways to provide basic passenger facilities such as functional bio-toilets, drinking water, and high-level platforms. A recent Comptroller and Auditor General report highlighted that these deficiencies persist despite multiple audit findings since 2007. The committee has directed the Ministry of Railways to submit a comprehensive response detailing corrective measures within one month.
What to watch next
- Review of committee observations by the Ministry of Railways.
- Submission of a response by the Ministry within one month.
- Follow-up meeting between the PAC and Railway officials.
What was said1
Attributed, verbatim. Every quote is checked against the article it came from. One that does not match is not shown.
K.C. Venugopal
1 quote“The meeting was one of the most important subjects concerning common passengers, railway passengers in this country. Basic amenities provided to passengers have serious discrepancies, including drinking water, seating arrangements, fans, and roofing on platforms... The audit has pointed out serious lapses on the part of the Railways, which we are examining... After one month, we will call another meeting with Railway officials and we will discuss this”
In the article
…ground. Sources said the PAC Chairperson directed the Ministry to review the committee’s observations, made since its 2007 report, and submit a response within a month detailing measures to address the deficiencies. “ The meeting was one of the most important subjects concerning common passengers, railway passengers in this country. Basic amenities provided to passengers have serious discrepancies, including drinking water, seating arrangements, fans, and roofing on platforms... The audit has pointed out serious lapses on the part of the Railways, which we are examining... After one month, we will call another meeting with Railway officials and we will discuss this ” Mr. Venugopal said after the meeting. The latest audit noted that while the Ministry had informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways in 2020-21 that it had introduced bio-toilets, water-vending machines…
Sources1
- [1]The HinducriticalPAC pulls up Railways over gaps in passenger amenities despite promises