New Delhi: Indian Railways has said it is setting up oxygen plants at its hospitals across the nation.
A 'Massive Capacity Enhancement' is being planned at 86 railway hospitals across India - under which four oxygen plants are functional, 52 have been sanctioned and 30 are under various stages of processing.
This comes days after Railway Board had written a letter to all the General Managers, where they were being delegated further powers and up to Rs 2 crores in each case for sanctioning oxygen generation plants.
Railway Ministry Spokesperson DJ Narain said, "We plan to achieve this as quickly as possible. Work will start in June."
A statement released by the Ministry of Railways said that this 'massive capacity enhancement' would usher in better infrastructure to handle medical emergencies.
Read: 4.32 lakh Railwaymen vaccinated so far, asking state govts to quickly inoculate others: CRB
"Indian Railways is leaving no stone unturned in the fight against Covid 19. On one hand, Railways is moving Oxygen Expresses swiftly with loaded oxygen to different parts, at the same, it is continuing with the movement of passenger and freight traffic. At the same time, Railways has geared up its in-house medical facilities," it further added.
On Monday, Chairman of the Railway Board Suneet Sharma told reporters that a number of initiatives have been taken by Railways to tackle the Covid crisis, including the increase in the number of beds for Covid treatment from 2539 to 6972, ICU Beds in Covid hospitals have been increased from 273 to 573 and invasive ventilators have been increased from 62 to 296.
He also said that around 4.32 lakh railway staff have been vaccinated so far and the Railways is also in touch with the state governments to intensify their efforts to inoculate the remaining employees.
In addition to this, Railways have also issued instructions that Covid affected employees may be admitted to empanelled hospitals on a referral basis as per need.
