New Delhi (NVI): With the availability of oxygen being the key element in the treatment of Covid-19 infection, the Indian Railways is getting fully ready to transport Liquid Medical Oxygen and oxygen cylinders across the key corridors.
Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra state governments had approached the Ministry of Railways to explore whether Liquid Medical Oxygen tankers could be moved by the Railways.
Railways immediately explored the technical feasibility of transportation of Liquid Medical Oxygen which has to be transported through Roll-On –Roll-Off (RO RO) service with road tankers placed on flat wagons.
“Due to restrictions of height of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Over Head Equipment (OHE) at certain locations, out of the various specifications of road tankers, the model of road tanker T 1618 with height of 3320 mm was found feasible to be placed on flat wagons (DBKM) with height of 1290 mm,” an official statement said.
In order to ensure that parameters of Transportation are tested, trials were conducted at various locations. This DBKM wagon was placed at Kalamboli goods shed in Mumbai on April 15 and a T 1618 tanker loaded with LMO was also brought here.
Railways have already placed DBKM wagons at Kalamboli and at other locations in expectation of movement of tankers to various locations. Railways are awaiting advice from Maharashtra to move the tankers.
Tentatively a movement plan has been made for dispatching 10 empty tankers on 19.04.2021.
