Minutes after a meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Chief Ministers of States having high Covid-19 caseloads on Friday, the Delhi Government requested Indian Railways to start operating ‘Oxygen Express’ trains immediately to save Covid-19 patients in need of medical oxygen in the national Capital hospitals.
Railway Board Chairman Suneet Sharma said the railways have received a request from Delhi “just now”, and the rail network system is planning its movement from Rourkela in Odisha. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the Centre to provide medical oxygen to the Delhi which is facing an acute shortage of it.
Delhi Government is the latest to have lined up for ‘Oxygen Express’ services, after Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Each tanker of ‘Oxygen Express’ trains can carry around 16 tonnes of medical oxygen and these trains have been put in to travel at an average speed of around 65 kmph.
“Andhra Pradesh has asked for oxygen to be moved from Angul in Odisha. We have asked the Delhi Government to keep their trucks ready, and our wagons, ramps are ready in the NCR area,” Sharma said at a press conference. He said the demand from Delhi will be met soon as the logistics are currently being worked out.
Sharma said the ‘Oxygen Express’ train headed for Uttar Pradesh will reach Lucknow on Saturday, and the one for Maharashtra will reach Nagpur on Friday night and then proceed towards Nashik, from where oxygen will be dispersed to different cities.
Deaths due to the lack of oxygen have been reported from across the country, and it was on the suggestion of the Maharashtra and the Madhya Pradesh governments that the Railways planned a policy to transport liquid medical oxygen in cryogenic tankers to states on request.
The first such train was pushed into service on April 19, when seven trucks left Mumbai for Vizag to load oxygen. These trucks were loaded on flat wagons and carried to the loading location. Asked why the ‘Oxygen Express’ trains were taking so long to reach their destinations, Sharma said it was because of the sensitive material they are carrying.
For the ‘Oxygen Express’, the Railways has issued transportation rates and weight requirements. The rules are valid till October 15. Also, the Railways will not levy any surcharges and will provide five hours’ free cargo-handling time. Goods and Services Tax will be levied. Two people, including the driver, can get on the trucks (with second-class tickets) carrying the oxygen.
To facilitate loading and unloading of tankers, a ramp is required which the Railways has constructed in record time.
Sharma also shared that around 93,000 railway beneficiaries have been affected by Covid-19, and 72 railway hospitals and 5,000 beds are dedicated to their care.