With no let-up in the coronavirus cases in the country, the Government has zeroed in on 215 railway stations across the country where railway coaches will be converted into Covid-19 care centres for patients of suspected or confirmed viral infection.
Most of these stations have been identified in the States like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh which are reporting high number of cases each passing days.
In the national Capital, New Delhi Railway Station, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Old Delhi railway stations have been selected for the conversion of coaches into the Covid centres for the health care of the patients whose numbers have already surpassed 54,000.
According to the officials in the Ministry, nine stations have been identified in Andhra Pradesh, while Assam has 13, Bihar (15), Chhattisgarh (2), Delhi (3), Goa (1), Gujarat (11), Haryana (4), J&K (2) Jharkhand (7), Karnataka (14), Kerala (3), Maharashtra (21), MP (14), Odisha (9), Punjab (7), Rajasthan (17), Tamil Nadu (10), Telangana (3), Tripura (1), UP (28), Uttarakhand (4) and in Bengal, 18 railway stations have been zeroed in.
A detailed map has been prepared by the Union Health Ministry in coordination with the Union Railway Ministry according to which preferably an individual cabin will be assigned to each patient or maximum of two confirmed patients.
The State Governments have been asked to attach at least one Covid-19 dedicated hospital with each Covid-19 special train so that patient can be shifted there in case of emergency. Also, one basic life support ambulance with oxygen and ambubag will be stationed at the identified railway station.
Separate coaches for suspect and confirmed cases will be ensured to avoid cross infection, as per the guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry.
The special train coaches, after formation shall be cleaned, and disinfected as per protocol for disinfection of quarantine facilities issued by the Health Ministry.
The Railways Ministry has been asked to designate State-wise nodal officers for allocation of trains and for coordinating with the respective State/UT Government.
The Centre has also suggested the respective States/UT Governments to look for placing the coaches at the other 130 stations only if they agree to provide staff and essential medicines at such stations.
The Railways would be responsible for provision of all the items for the Covid care centers, including arrangements for oxygen cylinders in each coach and other necessary items such as including linen etc.