Covid-19: Oxygen Express Trains To Run Across India

In view of the spiralling Covid-19 cases, there is an acute shortage of oxygen in the country. During treatment of certain medical conditions in Covid infection, oxygen is a key element.

Several states have been facing shortage of oxygen and it is taking time to supply the same from one state to another.

To avoid the delay in the transport of the precious gas during the Covid crisis, the Centre has decided to run oxygen express trains through green corridors to shift oxygen rapidly and in bulk quantities, Minister for Railways Piyush Goyal tweeted.

Goyal informed that Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra state governments had approached the Ministry of Railways to explore if liquid medical oxygen (LMO) tankers could be shifted by railways.

The Indian Railways is readying to transport LMO and oxygen cylinders across the key corridors in the country as the nation is witnessing a continuous rise in covid-19 cases.

Empty tankers will begin from Kalamboli and Boisar railway stations in and near Mumbai on April 19 and load LMO from Vizag, Rourkela, Jamshedpur and Bokaro, the railway officials said. LMO has to be transported through Roll On Roll Off (RO RO) service with road tankers placed on flat wagons.

In order to enable commercial booking and freight payment for RO RO movement of LMO in cryogenic tankers, Ministry of Railways has brought out a circular on 16 April providing all the necessary details and guidance on the matter.