Kochi: Due to a lack of demand, water vending machines installed at railway stations in Kerala have been removed. This service, which provided passengers with pure drinking water at an affordable rate, has been discontinued.

The service was halted as contractors operating water vending kiosks were not approaching due to declining sales. Railway authorities suggest that the decrease in demand may be because passengers are unwilling to carry bottles to fill with water. Additionally, poor hygiene conditions at the water vending kiosks are also believed to have negatively impacted sales.

In 2017, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), responsible for providing filtered water to passengers, introduced 1,100 machines across 450 stations. This service continues in other metropolitan cities.

Under this service, passengers could purchase 300 ml of water for Rs 1. Half a litre was available for Rs 3, one litre for Rs 5, two litres for Rs 8, and a can of water for Rs 20.

Meanwhile, IRCTC's packaged drinking water, Rail Neer, is priced at Rs. 15 for one litre and continues to sell well at railway stations.