An Empirical Analysis of Rail Neer Supply Deficit in Indian Railways: Institutional, Operational, and Policy Perspectives

Drinking safe water on trains is essential for public health and service quality. Indian Railways introduced Rail neer through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation to provide affordable and safe packaged drinking water to passengers. However, Rail neer has not been able to meet growing passenger demand, leading to a persistent supply shortage across many routes and trains. This study examines the reasons behind the Rail neer supply deficit using secondary data from IRCTC Annual Reports (2021–23), CAG audit observations, FSSAI guidelines, Ministry of Railways publications, and media sources. The findings show that the shortage is not only due to high demand but also structural and operational weaknesses. Production plants operate at only about 65–75% of their installed capacity. There is excessive dependence on centralized plants, weak coordination in distribution, lack of real time inventory tracking, and limited monitoring of PPP operated units. Demand increases sharply during summer and festive seasons, with gaps reportedly reaching up to 46% during peak periods. In such situations, private brands like Bisleri, Kinley, and Aquafina fill the gap. Although Rail neer remains competitively priced and quality certified, recurring complaints on passenger grievance platforms highlight issues of availability, especially on premium trains. The study recommends decentralized mini plants, better PPP regulation, technology based supply chain systems, seasonal buffer planning, and pricing reforms to strengthen Rail neer’s role as a reliable water supply solution for passengers.