New Delhi: Indian Railways is working in mission mode to achieve the target of manufacturing 1000 personal protection equipment kits (PPE) for the railways' doctors and medical professionals on the front line. These PPEs will be manufactured in 17 railway workshops. An overall produced by Jagadhari workshop was recently cleared by a DRDO lab, authorised for the purpose. Approved design and material will now be used for making this protective overall by other workshops under different zones. This PPE kit overall will offer much-needed protection to Railway Doctors and paramedics working on the front line of COVID care at hospitals of Railways.
Facilities are being geared up in Railways to make up to 1000 such protective overall for Railway Doctors & Paramedics every day. Around 17 workshops would be striving to contribute to this exercise. Railways is considering to supply 50% of the innovated PPE garment to other medical professionals of the country. Material for all the overalls is being procured centrally at Jagadhari which is located near many big textile industries in Punjab.
"It is important to mention here that the internal effort of PPE manufacturing of Railways is over and above a centralised request projected to the Government of India and also indicated to HLL through Indent"- Ministry of Railways
In the days to come, the production facilities can be further ramped up. The development of this overall and innovation by Indian Railways is being welcomed by other Government agencies engaged in the war against COVID-19.
Technical specifications of these PPEs are now ready, and material suppliers are in place. Now the production can start at the earliest. This development is a big boost to equip our doctors and paramedics on the front line of this battle against COVID-19.
Indian Railways is aiming to produce three sets per sewing machine per hour for as many days as required in its Production Units & Workshops. "It is important to mention here that the internal effort of PPE manufacturing of Railways is over and above a centralised request projected to the Government of India and also indicated to HLL through Indent" mentioned a press release issued by the Ministry of Railways.
Development of this kind of PPE kits in a quick time can set a benchmark for others to follow and this will help boost the production of one the most vital protection for those on the front line.