Indian Railways, the biggest transport utility of the country, has been taking a series of proactive measures to fight COVID-19 pandemic besides sustained efforts to run goods and parcel trains to ensure adequate supply of essential commodities across the length and breadth of the nation.
North Central Railway one of the most important Zonal Railway providing connectivity between North to East, West and South has been on the forefront in this unprecedented endeavor of Indian Railways against Corona Virus. Following steps/initiatives taken on North Central Railway were reviewed by GM NCR & NR Sri Rajiv Chaudhry in video conference on 03.04.20
- Steps have been taken to procure PPEs for medical personnel in adequate quantity besides inhouse coverall development by Jagdhri workshop of Northern Railway which at present is under testing at DRDO Gwalior and bulk production will commence once its passes stipulated tests. Further reusable face mask, sanitizer , soap etc are being provided to our frontline staff with inhouse production and purchase from market .Inhouse production of face mask and sanitizer on NCR is as under :
Division/Workshop | Inhouse mask production (Nos.) | Inhouse Sanitizer production (lts.) |
Prayagraj | 26797 | 1545 |
Jhansi | 4475 | 1000 |
Agra | 1750 | 1075 |
Jhansi wagon repair shop | 2000 | 0 |
Coach midlife rehabilitation shop Jhansi | 1000 | 0 |
Total | 36022 | 3620 |
- Railway protection force on North Central railway has been serving food to needy since 28.03.20 during country wide lockdown till 14.04.20 and have served more than 6500 meals till 02.04.20 . This gained further momentum with many other departments , IRCTC run kitchen at Prayagraj etc now joining in this noble initiative and cumulative meals served on NCR till 02.04.20 is as under :
Division | Approximate meals served (In nos.) |
Prayagraj | 897 |
Jhansi | 1351 |
Agra | 10717 |
Total | 12965 |
Besides quarantine facilities, Isolation wards in coaches & in identified hospitals, Indian railway has identified around 5000 beds in 17 dedicated Railway hospital hospital which if required shall be utilized for treatment of COVID positive patients . Such identified hospital includes 100 beds each of Central Hospital Prayagraj and divisional Railway hospital Jhansi . Final Railway hospital which shall be used for treating Covid-19 positive patients shall be advised by Railway board with approval of Ministry of Health and family welfare.