Western Railway to place a 23-coach train on platform no. 3 of Palghar station today; similar arrangements are already in place in Nandurbar and Nagpur
The Central Railway has readied 394 isolation coaches, while the Western Railway has 386 such cars
After Nandurbar and Nagpur, Palghar district has asked for rail isolation coaches. Western Railway will be sending a 23-coach train to Palghar on Saturday.
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The demand had been echoed by local Member of Parliament Rajendra Gavit, who had written to the railways after the Dahanu Vaitarna Pravasi Sevabhavi Sanstha raised bed shortage in the area.
Divisional railway manager GVL Satyakumar visited Palghar station on Friday night along with state officials to assess the conditions.
The district administration wants coaches for 2,000 patients, 500 each in Dahanu, Palghar, Vasai and Boisar .
Railway officials said a memorandum of understanding for the isolation coaches is being signed after which the coaches will be placed on platform 3 of Palghar station.
In his letter, MP Gavit said that the number of cases and availability of beds in Palghar were inversely proportional to each others. “When it comes to beds with oxygen units with ventilators, the situation becomes the worst. In such a situation, planning for beds is utmost necessary. We request you to provide railway coach COVID centres with oxygen units,” he had written.
Officials said the Central Railway has readied 394 isolation coaches, while the WR has 386 such cars. As per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare norms, a demand must be placed by the district administration as it involves joint responsibility of both the parties with regard to access, water supply, power connection. The platform also needs to be restricted for public access. Each coach can house 16 patients.
“A joint inspection and a memorandum of understanding is signed before the coaches are handed over as per the protocol so that there are no grey areas and the coaches are beneficial to patients. At Nandurbar, 57 patients are currently utilising the facility and the Nagpur one has also been put to use,” an official said.
“COVID coaches are the need of the hour in Palghar with a spike in cases. These will be beneficial for thousands of patients and help tackle the pandemic,” Mahesh Patil of Dahanu Vaitarna Pravasi Sevabhavi Sanstha said.
Activists pitch for rail ambulances
Railway ambulances can be a faster way for transport of patients, citizens have said. “Can we implement railway ambulances which will help people a lot and help in transition of patients from one place to another,” said IT professional Ameya Save. “It would be a great concept and will save lives of those who have to shift from one city to a Metro for urgent treatment. The government should seriously think on such novel ideas,” said Himanshu Vartak, consultative committee member, Palghar station.
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No. of patients each coach can accommodate
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