Fourth O2 Express Reaches ICD Whitefield

The fourth Oxygen Express reached ICD Whitefield at 8.45am on May 18. It had started from Tatanagar, Jharkhand on May 17 at 2.45am. Indian Railways is ensuring that essential commodities are transported to various corners of the country despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 Pandemic. The staff of Indian Railways have enabled efficient and swift transport of essentials goods including medical oxygen during this pandemic.

Indian Railways created a signal-free ‘Green-Corridor’ to enable swift transport of this Oxygen Express,  that is, this train had a stoppage free run and did not have to wait for crossing/passage of another train. The train carried six Cryogenic Containers and each cryogenic container carried 20 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen (LMO).  So far, Karnataka has received 480 Tonnes of LMO by rail in addition to those received via the sea route. 

Indian Railways has so far run nearly 150 Oxygen Expresses and transported more than 9440 Tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen all over the country to assist state governments in their fight against Covid -19. As of May 14, Indian Railways has delivered nearly 7900 MT of LMO in nearly 500 tankers to various states across India. Oxygen Expresses have been delivering nearly 800 MT of LMO to the Nation each day for the last few days.

Railways set to have 86 Oxygen plants for its hospitals

Indian Railways is leaving no stone unturned in the fight against Covid 19. On one hand, Railways is moving Oxygen Expresses swiftly with loaded oxygen to different parts, at the same, it is continuing with the movement of passenger and freight traffic. At the same time, Railways has geared up its in-house medical facilities. Massive Capacity Enhancement is planned in 86 Railway hospitals across India. 

Four Oxygen Plants are functional, 52 have been sanctioned and 30 under various stages of processing. All Railway Covid Hospitals to be equipped with Oxygen Plants. General Managers have been delegated further powers, that is, up to Rs 2 crore in each case for sanctioning Oxygen Generation plants under M&P (Railway Board letter 2020/F(X)II/ PW/3/Pt dated May 4, 2021). 

A series of measures have been initiated. The number of beds for Covid treatment has been increased from 2539 to 6972. The ICU Beds in Covid hospitals have been increased from 273 to 573. 

Invasive ventilators have been added and their number has been increased from 62 to 296. Constant efforts are being made to add critical medical equipment like BIPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, and so on in Railway hospitals. Railways have also issued instructions that Covid affected employees may be admitted to empanelled hospitals on a referral basis as per need. 

This massive capacity enhancement in Railway Hospitals will usher in better infrastructure to handle medical emergencies.

This post has been published in arrangement with Jaideep J Shenoy