New Delhi (NVI): Indian Railways has identified 215 stations for placement of specially designed coaches which will be used as ‘Covid Care Centres’ across the country as part of its efforts to deal with any emergency situation arising out of the pandemic.
Ministry of Railways has said that it has converted 5231 coaches as Covid Care Centers. “The Coaches can be used for very mild cases that can be clinically assigned to the Covid Care centers as per guidelines issued by MoHFW. These coaches can be used in areas where State has exhausted the facilities and needs to augment capacities for isolation of both suspect and confirmed Covid cases,” the Ministry said in a statement.
Indian Railways has geared up to provide its 5,231 Covid Care Centers to the States. Zonal Railways has converted these coaches for quarantine facility, the Ministry said.
Out of 215 stations, Railways will provide healthcare facilities in 85 stations. In 130 stations, States can request COVID care coaches only if they agree to provide staff and essential medicines.
Railways has kept 158 stations ready with watering and charging facility and 58 stations with watering facility for these COVID Care centers.
Apart from Covid care centers, Indian Railways will deploy more than 2500 Doctors and 35000 paramedic staff to meet the COVID 19 challenge. The Ministry said that Doctors and paramedics are being recruited on a temporary basis by various zones. Around 5,000 beds in 17 dedicated hospitals and 33 hospital blocks in Railway Hospitals have been identified for treatment of COVID-19 patients getting ready any contingency.
State Governments would send the requisition to Railways as per guidelines of the Health Ministry, the Ministry said, adding that Railways will make allocation of these coaches to the State/UTs.
“After allocation by Railways, the train shall be placed, at required station with necessary infrastructure, and handed over to District Collector/Magistrate or one of their authorised persons. Wherever the train is placed, watering, electricity, repairs required, catering arrangements, security shall be taken care by Railways,” it said.
