India’s First Water-Neutral Railway Depot

• 18 Apr 2026

Recently, the Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad has been declared a ‘water-neutral’ railway depot, achieving significant water conservation through innovative wastewater treatment and reuse.

Key Points

• The depot has achieved daily water savings of nearly 1.60 lakh litres, equivalent to over 300 household water tanks, through efficient treatment and reuse systems.
• At the core of this initiative is phytoremediation, a natural, plant-based process used to treat wastewater generated from routine activities such as coach washing and maintenance.
• Instead of discharging wastewater, the depot treats and recycles it for operational use, significantly reducing dependence on freshwater resources.
• The treatment system follows a multi-stage purification process, combining wetland-based natural treatment with modern techniques.
• Plants play a crucial role in absorbing impurities and improving water quality in the initial stages of treatment.
• In the final stages, water undergoes carbon and sand filtration, along with UV disinfection, ensuring it is safe for reuse.
• The initiative delivers both environmental and economic benefits, including reduced water consumption costs and improved resource efficiency.