No patient admitted in 'COVID Care' coaches in Telangana

As part of this, the South Central Railway has also prepared around 486 'COVID Care bogies', some at Hyderabad and others stationed at Kachiguda railway stations. However, not a single patient came to seek treatment in them.

Hyderabad:As many as 486 COVID isolation units made after converting railway coaches in Telangana have remained unused with no patients admitted so far, reports said on Saturday.

According to reports, with the ongoing outbreak of pandemic across the nation, Indian railways has turned train coaches into Covid-19 isolation wards.

Coaches which are generally used to transport patients has been used for Covid-19 treatment across the country.

As part of this, the South Central Railway has also prepared around 486 'COVID Care bogies', some at Hyderabad and others stationed at Kachiguda railway stations. However, not a single patient came to seek treatment in them.

Between the months of April and June 2020, about 5,601 bogies were converted into isolation wards across 16 railway zones.

Changes such as removing the middle berths, turning a toilet into a bathroom, and installing plastic curtains in the middle cost over Rs 60,000 per bogie.

It is learnt that around Rs 34 crore was spent in total, to convert such bogies across the country.

However, railway officials said that it's incorrect to say that funds have been wasted because its a contingency plan in case the government needs more facilities. Further added that the Railways is planning to make these available for the passengers back again.

Notably, all over India, 5000 COVID care coaches with a capacity of around 80,00 beds have been made available by India Railways.