The Indian Railways has started production at Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala to meet the demand for parcel coaches required to ensure supply of essential items during the lockdown across the country.
The ministry said that in a relentless battle against COVID 19, factory has been opened adhering all safety precautions and issued guidelines by the ‘Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) orders and local administration.
“A total 3,744 employees have been permitted to join the work who are residing inside the ‘Rail Coach Factory’ (RCF) premises township. As per the guidelines of MHA and advisory of State Governments, other production units of Indian Railways will resume production as and when advised,” it said.
“Despite the limited availability of resources, in two days the RCF Kapurthala had built two coaches, it said.
“All employees who joined duty after lock down have been issued a safety kit having masks, sanitizer bottle and soap to individual. All permitted employees have been call on duty in factory for coach production. In administrative offices, all officers have joined offices and 33 per cent staff is being call in rotation roster basis, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry further said that workers are being called in three shifts having different timings. “There is a gap between the entries, lunch time and exit timings for all three shifts. Every employee is being screened at the entrance gates by thermal scanners for their body temperatures,” it said.