Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Indian Railways is leaving no stone unturned in the fight against Covid-9. It is moving Oxygen Expresses swiftly with loaded oxygen to different parts of the country, at the same, it is continuing with the movement of passenger and freight traffic. Railways has also geared up its in-house medical facilities. Massive Capacity Enhancement is planned for 86 Railway Hospitals across India. Four Oxygen Plants are functional, 52 are sanctioned, and 30 under various stages of processing. All Railway Covid Hospitals to be equipped with Oxygen Plants.
General Managers have been delegated further powers, up to Rs 2 crore in each case for sanctioning Oxygen Generation plants. A series of measures have been initiated. The number of beds for Covid treatment have been increased from 2,539 to 6,972. The ICU Beds in Covid hospitals have been increased from 273 to 573. Invasive ventilators have been added and their number has been increased from 62 to 296.
Constant efforts are being made to add critical medical equipment like BIPAP machines, Oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders etc at Railway hospitals. Railways has also issued instructions that Covid affected employees may be admitted to empanelled hospitals on referral basis as per need. This massive capacity enhancement of Railway Hospitals would usher in better infrastructure to handle medical emergencies.