Indian Railways delivers more than 11030 MT of Oxygen to 13 States

Overcoming all hurdles and finding new solutions, Indian Railways is continuing its journey of bringing relief by delivering Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) to various states across the country. As on 18 May 2021, Indian Railways has delivered more than 11030 MT of LMO in more than 675 tankers to various states across the country.

  • Oxygen Expresses had been delivering nearly 800 MT of LMO to the Nation each day for last few days.
  • It may be noted that Oxygen Expresses started their deliveries 23 days back on 24th April in Maharashtra with a load of 126 MT.
  • In slightly over 24 days time, Railways has upscaled it’s Oxygen Express operations to deliver more than 11030 MT of Medical Oxygen to 13 States.
  • Criss crossing the country, Indian Railways is picking up oxygen from places like Hapa & Mundra in the West and Rourkela, Durgapur, Tatanagar, Angul in the East and then delivering it to States of Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, MP, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Telangana, Punjab, Kerala, Delhi & UP in complex operational route planning scenarios.
  • In order to ensure that Oxygen relief reaches in the fastest time possible, Railways is creating new standards and unprecedented benchmarks in running of Oxygen Express Freight Trains.
  • The average speed of these critical Freight trains is way above 55 in most cases over long distances.
  • Running on high priority Green Corridor, with a highest sense of urgency, operational teams of various zones are working round the clock in most challenging circumstances to ensure that Oxygen reaches in fastest possible time frame.
  • Technical Stoppages have been reduced to 1 minute for crew changes over different sections.
  • It may be noted that nearly 175 Oxygen Expresses have completed their journey so far and brought relief to various States.
  • Indian Railways has mapped different routes with Oxygen supply locations and keeps itself ready with any emerging need of the States.
  • States provide tankers to the Indian Railways for bringing LMO.

Following are the details of the oxygen delivered to states till 18 May 2021:

  • 521 MT of Oxygen has been offloaded in Maharashtra
  • Nearly 2858 MT in Uttar Pradesh
  • Nearly 3794 MT in Delhi
  • 476 MT in Madhya Pradesh
  • 1427 MT in Haryana
  • 565 MT in Telangana
  • 40 MT in Rajasthan
  • 480 MT in Karnataka
  • 200 MT in Uttarakhand
  • 350 MT in Tamil Nadu
  • 81 MT in Punjab
  • 118 MT in Kerala

Oxygen Plants:

  • Indian Railways is leaving no stone unturned in the fight against Covid 19.
  • On one hand, Railways is moving Oxygen Expresses swiftly with loaded oxygen to different parts, at the same, it is continuing with the movement of passenger and freight traffic.
  • At the same time, Railways has geared up its in-house medical facilities.
  • Massive Capacity Enhancement is planned in 86 Railway Hospitals across India.
  • 4 Oxygen Plants are functional, 52 are sanctioned and 30 under various stages of processing.
  • All Railway Covid Hospitals to be equipped with Oxygen Plants.
  • General Managers have been delegated further powers, upto Rs 2 crores in each case for sanctioning Oxygen Generation plants under M&P vide Rly Bd letter no 2020/F(X)II/ PW/3/Pt dated 4.5.21.
  • A series of measures have been initiated.
  • The number of beds for Covid treatment have been increased from 2539 to 6972.
  • The ICU Beds in Covid hospitals have been increased from 273 to 573.
  • Invasive ventilators have been added and their number has been increased from 62 to 296.
  • Constant efforts are being made to add critical medical equipment like BIPAP machines, Oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders etc in Railway hospitals.
  • Railways have also issued instructions that Covid affected employees may be admitted to empanelled hospitals on referral basis as per need.
  • This massive capacity enhancement in Railway Hospitals would usher in better infrastructure to handle medical emergencies

Source: PIB-Press Release