India’s First Water-Neutral Railway Depot: Location, Features and Significance

Learn about India’s first water-neutral railway depot—its innovative water management systems, sustainability features, and role in promoting eco-friendly practices by Indian Railways.

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Context: Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad has become India’s first ‘water-neutral’ railway depot by recycling wastewater used in coach washing and maintenance.

India’s First Water-Neutral Railway Depot

The Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is the first railway depot in India to achieve water neutrality by treating and reusing wastewater generated during routine railway coach cleaning and maintenance.
It minimizes freshwater dependency by ensuring that almost all operational water demand is met through recycled water, promoting sustainable railway infrastructure.

Key Features

Phytoremediation-Based Treatment System: The depot uses phytoremediation, an eco-friendly process where specially selected plants naturally absorb pollutants and purify wastewater before reuse.
Multi-Stage Water Purification: Wastewater passes through wetland treatment, followed by carbon filtration, sand filtration, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection to ensure safe and efficient reuse.
Massive Water Conservation: The system saves nearly 1.60 lakh litres of water daily and around 5.84 crore litres annually, significantly reducing freshwater consumption and operational costs.