Delhi request for ‘Oxygen Express’ is likely to be met from Rourkela
New Delhi, April 23: Facing a severe shortage of medical oxygen, the Delhi government has requested the Railways to operate ‘Oxygen Express’ trains to save Covid19 patients gasping for breath in the city’s hospitals, Railway Board chairman Suneet Sharma said on Friday.
The request came minutes after a meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the chief ministers of states having high Covid-19 caseloads, including Delhi.
In the meeting, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the Centre to provide medical oxygen to the national capital.
The Delhi government is the latest to have lined up for ‘Oxygen Express’ services after Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, Mr Sharma said.
Each tanker of ‘Oxygen Express’ trains can carry around 16 tonnes of medical oxygen, he said, adding that these trains travel at a speed of around 65 kmph.
“We have received a request from Delhi just now and we are still planning its movement. We will likely get the oxygen from Rourkela,” the Railway Board chairman said.
“Andhra Pradesh has asked for oxygen to be moved from Angul in Odisha. We have asked the Delhi government to keep their trucks ready. Our wagons and ramps are ready in the NCR area,” he added.
Mr Sharma said the ‘Oxygen Express’ train headed for Uttar Pradesh will reach Lucknow on Saturday and the one for Maharashtra will reach Nagpur on Friday night and then proceed towards Nashik, from where oxygen will be dispersed to different cities.
When asked why the ‘Oxygen Express’ trains were taking so long to reach their destinations, Mr Sharma said it is because of the sensitive material they are carrying.
For the ‘Oxygen Express,’ the Railways has issued transportation rates and weight requirements. The rules are valid till October 15. Also, the Railways will not levy any surcharges and will provide five hours’ free cargo-handling time. Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be levied.
◗ THE DELHI government is the latest to have lined up for ‘Oxygen Express’ services after Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, Railway Board chairman Suneet Sharma said