How 'Oxygen Express' will help Delhi amid oxygen shortage?

The COVID19 situation in Delhi is turning grim and the capital pants for the oxygen. Indian Railways has come to the fore in these difficult times running Oxygen Express trains across the country. The railways' initiative is likely to ease the situation in the capital.

New Delhi: As the COVID-19 pandemic is continuing its rampage, Delhi is witnessing a grim situation due to the shortage of oxygen in various hospitals. However, Railways has taken an initiative to ease it down by providing 70 tonnes Oxygen supply to the national capital.

The first Oxygen Express train to Delhi is all set to reach its destination by early morning of Tuesday. This train is carrying four tankers with 70 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen which has been filled from Jindal Steel Works, Raigarh. Oxygen Express will reach Delhi Cantonment at 5 am, Tuesday.

In view of the high demand of oxygen, Delhi Government had written a letter to the Railway Board asking it to load oxygen from 9 locations.

Delhi Government has estimated that the national capital requires 700 tonnes of oxygen on a daily basis. Meanwhile, Delhi has been alloted a quota of 378 tonnes of oxygen by Central Government. After the request of state government, this quota was being increased to 480 tonnes.

On Sunday, the Railway Board Chairman Suneet Sharma had told the reporters, "We are readying four tankers from Jindal Steel Plant in Raigarh for Delhi. Plans are ready to move oxygen for Delhi and NCR region from plants in Angul, Raigarh, Kalingnagar and Rourkela. We have asked the state government to keep their trucks ready."

Read: 1,268 MT of medical oxygen transported out of Odisha in four days

A Railway Ministry official had also informed, "We have examined the feasibility and informed that we can transport Liquid Medical Oxygen from 7 out of these 9 locations and 2 locations are not feasible due to technical reasons. They were also requested to arrange tankers, place indent at station."

Additional Divisional Railway Manager, Delhi is being nominated as nodal officer for this purpose.

However, the ruling Aam Admi Party had alleged during a press conference, on Monday, that the promises made by Central Government are not being implemented fully on ground as the national capital is not yet receiving its full quota of oxygen. AAP leader Durgesh Pathak urged the Government to provide adequate supply of oxygen to Delhi amid this crisis.

On Monday, Railways informed that it has transported more than 302 MT of Oxygen safely and securely to various states across India. Another 154 MT liquid medical oxygen is on its way, which included 70 tonnes for Delhi.

Meanwhile, the First Oxygen Express for MP (Bhopal & Jabalpur) from Bokaro with 6 loaded tankers will depart tonight at around 1-2 am from Bokaro and will reach its destination by tomorrow night.

Read: Rlwys says it has transported 302 tonnes of oxygen, 154 tonne is enroute