Railways readies 200 quarantine coaches for the city

The COVID coaches have provision for oxygen cylinders

The railways has spruced up its COVID-19 rail coaches in anticipation of a request from the city administration that is facing a shortage of hospital beds and centres. Officials said the coaches can be put to use within 24 hours.

While the Western Railway has about 152 coaches, the Central Railway has readied 48. Each coach can accommodate 16 patients. The rail cars have been kept as a standby for emergency quarantine treatment. These can also be moved to towns near villages if required.

Western Railway General Manager Alok Kansal said that these well-equipped coaches can be put to use on a single call from the state. Central Railway chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar said, "In January, we had communicated this to the Maharashtra government, and they had given us consent to modify coaches and keep about 10 per cent of the converted ones."

Middle berths have been removed from these cabins to maintain two feet bed space. Extra bottle holders, clamps and electric points and foldable stools are provided for medicines, oxygen cylinders, IV fluids and medical equipment like oscilloscope monitors and suction apparatus. Air plastic curtains have been provided between two cabins for privacy and isolation. Of the four toilets in a coach, one has been converted into a bathroom.

On May 8, 2020, mid-day had reported that the railways had been advised to keep Mumbai Central, Dadar western, Bandra Terminus and Panvel stations ready as COVID care centres.