Hyderabad: The South Central Railway has converted 486 coaches as Isolation Coaches fulfilling the target given by the Railway Board to supplement the national efforts to Combat COVID-19.
The Indian Railways has in the fore front of making all out effort with multi-pronged strategies to contain the spread of the virus. As part of this.
Ministry of Railways had instructed all Zonal Railways to convert around 5000 Non-AC passenger carrying coaches in to isolation wards, as a contingency to aid in the endeavor to control the spread of the virus.
Out of the 5000 Non-AC coaches planned for conversion over Indian Railways. South Central Railway has given with a target of 486 coaches.
The officers and staff of SCR under the directions of SCR General Manager Gajanan Mallya immediately swung in to action and chalked out the plans for early completion of the target to meet the deadline, though there is unprecedented lockdown throughout the Nation.
In order to expedite the works, the General Manager instructed to procure the essential material by both Lallaguda and Tiruapti workshops under centralized requirement and advised to take up the task of conversion of coaches by all the Six divisions and two workshops of Zone.
Accordingly, Secunderabad Division converted 120 coaches; Hyderabad Division converted 40 coaches; Vijayawada Division converted 50 coaches; Guntakal Division converted 61 coaches; Nanded division converted 30 coaches; Guntur Division converted 25 coaches; Lallaguda Workshop converted 76 coaches and Tirupati workshop converted 84 coaches.
Accordingly, in a short span of time, the South Central Railway has converted all of the targeted 486 coaches as isolation wards by optimally utilizing the available resources and manpower during the crisis time. Each isolation coach will have eight coupes for COVID patients and one coupe for medical staff.
The coaches have been modified to have one bathroom, three toilets, curtains in between the coupes and all the necessary electrical and medical equipment. as per the advisory issued by Railway Board.
Gajanan Mallya appreciated the efforts of Officers and staff of the Zone, especially the Mechanical wing in completion of essential work within the reasonable time in the hour of need with the available work force. (INN)