21 April,2021 06:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
The seven tankers sent to Visakhapatnam
The state transport authorities are facing unique, never thought of challenges, and problems while procuring liquid medical oxygen. There are not many right-sized lorry tankers that can be loaded onto trains to bring in the oxygen. Of the several ones that have arrived at Kalamboli railway yard in the past two days, only seven fitted the required specifications and were sent to bring oxygen from Vishakhapatnam. The Western Railway has been on stand-by with ramp and related infrastructure ready at Boisar, but since there are no lorry tankers available, the facility is yet to be used.
For the past two days, the railway and Maharashtra transport department officials have been working on identifying road tankers of specific size that will fit onto these rail wagons, and be transported all the way to get oxygen.
"We are trying to get supplies from everywhere and the challenges faced are quite unique. Trains are ready, but the tankers of right specifications are yet to be loaded. Yesterday, at Kalamboli yard too, 14 tankers arrived and only seven fitted the specifications. We are exploring options on the way ahead," Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Avinash Dhakne told mid-day.
"There are limited tankers which are already deployed for supply locally and these type of specialised tankers with heavy costs normally get fabricated by the manufacturers. But they cannot be built again immediately at such a short notice. Nobody imagined the current situation where the consumption has increased by 130% from 650 mt to 1500 mt in a state. The conversion of nitrogen tankers into oxygen ones has helped and that is the new addition we have managed. But even then, the tankers are falling short of the requirements," said transporter Bal Malkit Singh, chairman, core committee and former president of the All-India Motor Transport Congress.
A senior railway official said since the tankers need to be placed on railway wagons and transported across the country, they need to be of the right size. "We have to consider the height of bridges, overhead wires, sideways width due to other trains passing by and many more things. Also oxygen is inflammable so extra care is needed during transportation.
Due to restrictions of height of Road Over Bridges and Over Head Equipment at certain locations, out of the various specifications of road tankers, the model of road tanker T-1618 with height of 3,320 mm was found feasible to be placed on flat wagons with height of 1,290 mm.
Based on these measurements, route clearances were taken, and it was found that it would be possible to undertake movements as an over dimensional consignment, with speed restrictions on some sections depending on overhead clearances," he added.
The Western Railway identified a place inside Mumbai limits for the delivery of liquid medical oxygen and prepared a ramp for the heavier 31-tonne lorry tankers to be loaded on trains at the Jogeshwari yard. A senior official confirmed the development and said that the railways had been exploring all options and have finally readied infrastructure at Jogeshwari. "Trials were being conducted on them on Tuesday," a spokesperson said.
