Kankaria Becomes India’s First Water-Neutral Railway Depot | 21 Apr 2026

Why in News?  

The Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad has been declared India’s first “water-neutral railway depot”, achieving a major milestone in sustainable water management. 

Key Points  

• First in India: Kankaria Coaching Depot (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) becomes the first railway depot in India to achieve water neutrality.  
  • The depot saves nearly 1.6 lakh litres of water daily, which is equivalent to more than 300 household water tanks.  
  • This leads to an estimated saving of about 5.84 crore litres of water annually.  
• Recycling: The depot treats and reuses wastewater generated from coach washing and maintenance operations, ensuring zero wastage.  
  • Water undergoes a scientific multi-stage process, including wetland-based treatment, sand filtration, carbon filtration, and UV disinfection.  
  • A key feature of the system is phytoremediation, where plants are used to naturally absorb and remove pollutants from wastewater.  
• Model for Indian Railways: The depot is being seen as a replicable model for other railway depots and stations across the country.