The Indian Railways has always been up and front in India’s fight against corona. From transporting millions of tonnes of grains and food packages. Moreover, the railways had turned various train coaches to quarantine centres for patients in order to ease the tension and handle the increasing numbers adequately.
In yet another initiative, the railway authorities are looking forward to providing various modified coaches as COVID-19 care centres as requested by the state governments. Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had asked state governments to present their requirements to the national transporter
Primarily, three states have come up with their requirements for these special COVID-19 care centres including the likes of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Telangana. The Uttar Pradesh government has finalized about 24 stations for these COVID-19 care coaches, while in Delhi about 10 such coaches are located at one location. In Telangana, the coaches are requested to be put up at three locations, namely Kachiguda, Secunderabad, and Adilabad.
“Sixty coaches have been requisitioned by Telangana at Secunderabad, Kachiguda and Adilabad. Ten coaches have been requisitioned by Delhi. Each coach has a capacity for 16 beds.
“However, the composition of the COVID care centres (rakes) will be decided as per the requirements of the state. As of now, Telangana which has asked for 60 coaches will get 960 beds which they can use in the three locations they have identified. Uttar Pradesh has asked for 240 coaches,” one of the railway spokespeople was quoted as saying.
The coaches are the first segment of the 5.321, which were turned into isolation centres by railways. The number of coronavirus cases has been witnessing a steep increase, with the total inching to 3 Lakh. Therefore, states are focusing on being prepared to meet the number of required beds wherein these special care centres from railways can play a significant role.