COVID: Ashwini Vaishnaw takes stock of Railways’ oxygen plants, issues directions

New Delhi: In the context of the recent surge in COVID cases across the country, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw directed the senior officials of various railway zones and divisions to facilitate the use of railway hospitals and health infrastructure for the general public. Railway Board's Chairman & Chief Executive Officer VK Tripathi, Board Members and senior officials of the Ministry of Railways along with General Managers (GMs) and Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) of all zonal railways joined the meeting virtually.

In the review meeting, Vaishnaw examined railway hospital infrastructure, paediatric ward functioning, the vaccination of children and staff of Railways including provisioning of booster dose to frontline workers of railways, availability of medicines, oxygen supply, zeolite stock and other necessary medical support and functioning of ventilators, Liquid Medical Oxygen Tanks, and other equipment which is critical in COVID-19 treatment.

He reviewed the status of commissioning of Oxygen Plants (out of total sanctioned oxygen plants, 78 have already been commissioned and 17 are yet to be commissioned).

He also examined the frequency of announcements at Railway stations about masking up, sanitisation of hands and other precautionary measures.

He advised to Railway staff to discourage the entry of people without the mask at Railway stations. Running drives to promote the wearing of mask and other precautionary measures, have also been reviewed.

He also reviewed the status of running of special stations for/to in case of emergency and/or the sudden surge in number of passengers/migrants at Railway stations during the current situation of COVID.

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